NCJ Number
39310
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IN THE PLANNING OF A NEW DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTHOUSE, IT WAS DECIDED THAT A MODEL COURTROOM SHOULD BE DESIGNED AND TESTED BEFORE CONSTRUCTION WAS UNDERWAY.
Abstract
AS A SPECIAL CONDITION TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS, LEAA REQUIRED THAT THE NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE CONDUCT AN EVALUATION OF THE MODEL COURTROOM. CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE SHELL OF AN EXISTING COURTROOM, THE MODEL WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET WIDE BY 46 FEET DEEP AND CONTAINED 1320 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE. ALTHOUGH THE SHAPE OF THE ROOM IS RECTANGULAR, THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COURTROOM REVOLVE AROUND A 14-FOOT DIAMETER OPEN WELL. IN ADDITION, TWO SYSTEMS OF CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION WERE INSTALLED, ONE FOR RECORDING COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR THE RECORD AND ONE FOR DISPLAYING EVIDENCE. AN ANALYSIS OF USERS' QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES TOGETHER WITH ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS RESULTED IN SEVERAL IMPORTANT FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONCLUSIONS. OVER 87 PERCENT OF COURTROOM USERS RESPONDED FAVORABLY TO THE BASIC FEATURES OF THE GENERAL PURPOSE COURTROOM. THE MOST IMPORTANT DESIGN DEFICIENCY NOTED WAS THE LOCATION OF THE COURT REPORTER'S WORK STATION. OTHER RECOMMENDED CHANGES INCLUDED REORGANIZING THE SPECTATOR SEATING AND EXPANDING THE SIZE OF THE WELL TO REDUCE CIRCULATION PROBLEMS....ELW