Court Space Survey, 1987-1988

• NCJ Number: 116910
• Author(s): D J Saari
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 32 pages
• Corporate Author: VVRK, Inc
• Sale Source: American Institute of Architects
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented to the American Institute of Architects, Committee on Architecture for Justice.

Annotation

This 1987-88 survey of 229 courts indicates that a significant number of space planning problems exist for approximately 2,000 trial judges and their staffs.

Abstract

The survey began in 1987 in the States of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. It reached 136 courts of general jurisdiction with 735 judges. The survey was then expanded to 23 additional States and to 93 courts with 1,350 more judges in Federal, State, and local courts. Findings show a large number of courts have inadequate and outdated facilities, and decisionmaking processes to improve court space are both lengthy and complex. Communities attempting to solve their court space problems are involving all relevant parties in the process. The report recommends that public officials, architects, engineers, and space-planning firms become more aware of court space problems and needs. Advanced planning and programming are the keys for success in improving court facilities. Successful examples of projects that have improved court space should be publicized. 21 tables, 31-item bibliography. (Author summary modified)