PLANNING ASSISTANCE TO MARICOPA COUNTY AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX (AZ) IN THE PHYSICAL AND CLERICAL CONSOLIDATION OF COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS AND THE PHOENIX MUNICIPAL COURT - PHASE 1

• NCJ Number: 49924
• Author(s): B D BEAUDIN; J PETERSEN; L SIEGEL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 25 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-013-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Annotation

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONVERTING AN OLD COURT BUILDING TO NEW USES AND FOR CONSOLIDATING CERTAIN COURT SUPPORT FUNCTIONS ARE PRESENTED IN A REPORT PREPARED FOR MARICOPA COUNTY AND PHOENIX, ARIZ.

Abstract

THE BUILDING IN QUESTION IS TO BE VACATED BY THE COUNTY'S SUPERIOR COURT, WHICH IS MOVING INTO A NEW FACILITY. THE SIX COUNTY-FUNDED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS, HOUSED IN SEPARATE LEASED PREMISES, NEED NEW FACILITIES, AS DOES THE CITY-FUNDED MUNICIPAL COURT, WHICH IS HOUSED IN AN OLD CAR DEALERSHIP BUILDING. THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION--MOVING THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND JUSTICE COURTS INTO THE SPACE BEING VACATED BY THE SUPERIOR COURT--IS COMPLICATED BY CERTAIN POLITICAL REALITIES, SUCH AS THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE COUNTY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ARE HOUSED IN SPACE LEASED BY THE CITY TO THE COUNTY, AND THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY JOINTLY OWN THE FACILITY BEING VACATED BY THE SUPERIOR COURT. HAVING ANALYZED THE SITUATION, THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM CONCLUDED THAT IT IS FEASIBLE FOR BOTH THE JUSTICE COURTS AND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS TO OCCUPY THE NEWLY AVAILABLE FACILITY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONVERTING THE FACILITY AND CARRYING OUT THE TRANSITION ARE OFFERED. AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE, COMPOSED OF CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, TO OVERSEE LONG-RANGE AND SHORT-RANGE PLANNING, MONITORING, AND IMPLEMENTATION NEEDED TO ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE USE OF CITY AND COUNTY COURT RESOURCES AND FACILITIES. (LKM)