NCJ Number
147944
Date Published
1973
Length
165 pages
Annotation
The author explains how judicial facilities can better manage their limited space.
Abstract
The problem of poor space allocation does not arise after a facility is occupied; rather, it is rooted in the manner in which most facilities are created. Most States still rely on local entities to implement construction without a statewide or regional plan, the result being discordant functioning among departments within a court complex. Typically, they allocate space on a first-come, first-serve basis, without regard for overall priorities and operational relationships. This can be illustrated using the following scenario: a rise in crime creates public demand for more police protection; money is spent to hire more police; arrests go up, but no one knows what to do about the increased court caseload. The content of this handbook was drawn from a 1970-1972 study of New York county judicial facilities. Chapters move progressively from conceptual to methodological to specific applicational issues--from a definition of the space "shortage" to assessing space and manpower to courthouse security and other considerations. 27 tables, 28 figures