NCJ Number
44405
Date Published
1976
Length
65 pages
Annotation
THE RENOVATED MERCER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURTROOM IS DESCRIBED, EVALUATED BY THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT, AND COMPARED WITH THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SUPERIOR COURT MODEL COURTROOM-IN-THE-ROUND.
Abstract
THE OLD MERCER COUNTY COURTROOM WAS A LARGE HALL DOMINATED BY BALCONIES AND WINDOWS. THE RENOVATION INVOLVED AN ADAPTATION OF THE CIRCULAR COURTROOM DESIGN, WITH THE LITIGATION AREA TAKING THE FORM OF A FLATTENED OVAL. THE WALLS, CEILINGS, WINDOWS, AND DOORS OF THE OLD ROOM WERE LEFT INTACT. THE TOTAL COST OF THE RENOVATION -- CABINETRY, CAMERAS AND VIDEOTAPE EQUIPMENT, CARPETING AND FURNITURE, AND CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURAL COSTS -- WAS APPROXIMATELY $50,000. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO COURT PERSONNEL, JURORS, AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN COURT PROCEEDINGS HELD IN THE RENOVATED SPACE. THE QUESTIONNAIRE COVERED THE GENERAL EFFECT OF THE ROOM, LOCATION OF COURT PARTICIPANTS, INTERNAL MOVEMENT, SPACE ALLOCATION AND USE, VISUAL AND ACOUSTICAL QUALITY OF THE SPACE, FURNISHINGS, EQUIPMENT, SECURITY, AND TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROL. RESPONSES RANGED FROM BLANKET APPROVAL TO MILD CRITICISM, BUT ALL RESPONDENTS AGREED THAT THE NEW SPACE WAS A VAST IMPROVEMENT OVER THE OLD ROOM. THE FEATURES OF THE MERCER COUNTY MODEL ARE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MODEL RELATIVE TO EACH OF THE POINTS COVERED IN THE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE. THE SPECIAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EACH MODEL ARE POINTED OUT. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE MERCER COUNTY RENOVATION ARE SUGGESTED. DIAGRAMS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MERCER COUNTY PROJECT ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE A COPY OF THE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE AND SUMMARIES OF THE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE.