NCJ Number
66509
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTAINS 25 ANNOTATED ENTRIES OF WORKS PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1968 AND 1977 ON THE SUBJECT OF ARCHITECTURAL COURT DESIGN AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR PATTERNS.
Abstract
INCREASING COURT BACKLOGS AND RISING COURT COSTS ARE FELT TO REFLECT THE DIFFICULTIES OF ADAPTING TRADITIONAL JUDICIAL FACILITIES TO CONTEMPORARY COURTROOM NEEDS. THREE GENERAL REASONS FOR SOCIETY'S NEED TO FOCUS ON THE DESIGN OF COURTROOM AND COURTHOUSE FACILITIES ARE (1) EXISTING COURT FACILITIES HAVE NOT BEEN DESIGNED TO COPE WITH THE DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR OF EXTREME NONCOMFORMING ELEMENTS; (2) MANY COURT FACILITIES ARE VERY OLD AND DO NOT MEET BASIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS; AND (3) ALL COURTROOMS LACK MAXIMUM SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY APPOINTMENTS COMMENSURATE WITH TODAY'S ELECTRONIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITES. MUCH OF THE POOR AND COSTLY UTILIZATION OF COURT FACILITIES EMERGES FROM AD HOC SPACE ALLOCATION, TERRITORIAL PREROGATIVES, AND BASIC CONSERVATISM PREVALENT IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE MODEL TO LOOK TO IN TERMS OF COURT DESIGN AND THE UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY IS THE MCGEORGE SCHOOL OF LAW IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ADDRESSED IN SEVERAL OF THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATIONS. THUS THE BASIC ISSUES ADDRESSED BY THE REFERENCE MATERIALS, STUDIES, AND JOURNAL ARTICLES CITED IN THIS COLLECTION INCLUDE THE DIFFERING DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR CRIMINAL, FAMILY, AND CIVIL COURTS; THE RENOVATION OF OLD COURTS; AND FACILITIES FOR WITNESSES. EACH CITATION PROVIDES BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND MOST HAVE ANNOTATIONS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (MRK)