NCJ Number
68246
Date Published
1979
Length
225 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS' EXAMINATION OF COURT AND COURT-RELATED SPACE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY (MINNESOTA) COURTS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE REPORT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN WHICH WILL INSURE CONTINUING ADEQUACY OF COURT FACILITIES AND OPTIMAL USE OF SPACE. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT WERE TO ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING DISTRICT, MUNICIPAL, AND PROBATE COURT FACILITIES; TO ANALYZE AND IDENTIFY SPACE PROBLEMS AND REQUIREMENTS; TO ASSESS AND DOCUMENT FUTURE SPACE NEEDS; AND TO ESTABLISH SPACE STANDARDS FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY COURTS. SINCE 1975 MOST COURT AND COURT-RELATED FUNCTIONS HAVE BEEN HOUSED IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER. THE PROJECT TEAM INCLUDED MEMBERS WITH APPROPRIATE INTERDISCIPLINARY BACKGROUNDS SUCH AS COURT MANAGEMENT, SPACE PLANNING, AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. STUDY METHODOLOGY INVOLVED REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF ALL AVAILABLE COURT SYSTEM INFORMATION, DOCUMENTATION OF EXISTING OPERATIONS AND PRESENT UTILIZATION OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES, ADMINISTRATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE TO COURT PERSONNEL, ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL WORKLOAD DATA, DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE STANDARDS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SHORT AND LONG RANGE SOLUTIONS. THE STUDY TEAM CONCLUDED THAT THE PRESENT COURT AND COURT-RELATED FACILITIES ARE DYSFUNCTIONAL IN FIVE SPECIFIC AREAS. SPECIFIC FINDINGS ARE DETAILED. FOOTNOTES, APPENDIXES, AND EXTENSIVE FIGURES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED.