NCJ Number
65545
Date Published
1979
Length
33 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT ANALYZES THE PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE SITES, FOR A NEW OR RENOVATED COURTHOUSE FOR ISLAND COUNTY, WASH.
Abstract
THE JUDGE OF THE ISLAND COUNTY DISTRICT COURT REQUESTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM LEAA'S CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LAW INSTITUTE BECAUSE THE EXISTING FACILITY WAS INADEQUATE. THE POPULATION HAD RISEN 35 PERCENT (FROM 26,000 TO 40,000) SINCE 1973, AND THE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT CASELOAD HAD TRIPLED IN THAT TIME AND WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE EVEN FURTHER IN THE NEXT 6 YEARS. SPECIFICALLY, THE INSTITUTE WAS ASKED TO EVALUATE THE EXISTING FACILITY, REVIEW PLANS AND PROGRESS FOR THE PROPOSED NEW FACILITY, IDENTIFY CRITICAL PLANNING AND DESIGN ISSUES, AND EVALUATE SITES FOR THE NEW COURTHOUSE. AN ARCHITECT CONDUCTED AN ONSITE VISIT TO THE COUNTY. HIS ANALYSIS UNCOVERED SEVERAL SHORTCOMINGS IN THE EXISTING COURTHOUSE: INADEQUATE SPACE, POOR LAYOUT, BAD ACOUSTICS, INSUFFICIENT PARKING SPACE, INADEQUATE SAFETY PROVISIONS. DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING THE COURTHOUSE WERE ALSO FORMULATED. THESE INVOLVED SPATIAL RECONFIGURATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR SPACE ALLOTMENT FOR A NEW FACILITY. ADEQUATE SITES SELECTION WAS CITED AS IMPERATIVE TO SATISFY CRITERIA THAT WOULD ASSURE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE COURT. ESSENTIAL FEATURES WOULD INCLUDE ACCESSBILITY TO USERS, LOCATION WITHIN MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES, SUITABLE IMAGE, ADEQUATE PARKING, HANDICAPPED ACCESS, GOOD ACOUSTICS, LEAD TIME, AND ENERGY CONSERVATION. OAK HARBOR WAS CONSIDERED THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE NEW COURTHOUSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY HIRE AN ARCHITECT TO CARRY OUT THE PLANNING AND TO DEVELOP DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS. APPENDIXES GIVE THE SITE VISIT SCHEDULE AND THE LIST OF INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED, POPULATION STATISTICS FOR ISLAND COUNTY, AND A MAP OF THE COUNTY. (MJW)