NCJ Number
180538
Date Published
1998
Length
166 pages
Annotation
This is an update of guidelines for planning and designing court facilities that were initially developed in 1989 under the Judicial Facilities Project.
Abstract
Chapter I is a broad examination of the many issues that affect the planning process. Included in this discussion are the need to establish a user committee to oversee the project, the selection of consultants and architects, and the five phases of a facilities project: planning, design, bidding, construction, and occupancy. Chapter II begins the discussion of courthouse design. General issues are first addressed, including the need to maintain flexibility, site selection and the use of satellite court facilities, internal adjacencies, zoning and internal circulation, and building efficiency factors. Issues that affect design are covered as well, such as the organization and administration of the court, the types of cases, courthouse security needs, needs of persons with disabilities, fire and life safety, and the environment. Chapter III contains the design guidelines for each area within the courthouse, beginning with the courtroom and progressing through the entire building. Where appropriate, each space is discussed in terms of nine criteria: design and image, space, environment, needs of persons with disabilities, adjacency and circulation, accessibility, security, furnishings, and technology considerations. The final chapter discusses the various financial arrangements that are used to finance courthouse construction. A facility evaluation checklist, a 29-item annotated bibliography, and a subject index