NCJ Number
64345
Date Published
1977
Length
162 pages
Annotation
A COMPLETE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE JUDICIAL FACILITIES OF ALL COURT AND COURT-RELATED STRUCTURES IN THE 101 DOWNSTATE COUNTIES OF ILLINOIS IS PRESENTED; PROBLEMS AND DEFICIENCIES ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE ILLINOIS STATEWIDE JUDICIAL FACILITIES PROJECT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED APPROACH TO DEVELOPING A COST-EFFECTIVE MASTER PLAN TO ENSURE ADEQUATE AND SUITABLE JUDICIAL FACILITIES. PHASE ONE OF THE 2-YEAR PROJECT, FOCUSED ON ANALYSIS OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND EVALUATION OF THEIR SUITABILITY. SPECIFIC GOALS INCLUDED ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPLETE INVENTORY OF FACILITIES, DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM FEATURING CONVENIENT STORAGE AND RAPID RETRIEVAL, AND DETERMINING COURT FACILITY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES SUITABLE FOR STATEWIDE APPLICATION. ONSITE SURVEY OF COURT FACILITIES AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND ANALYSIS OF QUESTIONNAIRE DATA REVEALED PROBLEMS WHICH ARE COMMON TO A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF STATE COURTHOUSES. THESE PROBLEMS, SECURITY PROBLEMS, BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT, EXPANSION, FISCAL AND FUNDING DIFFICULTIES, AND PROBLEMS WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THE MOST CRUCIAL INADEQUACIES EXIST IN MEDIUM-SIZED COURTHOUSES WITH HIGH CASELOADS. MANY COURTHOUSES LACK OFFICE SPACE FOR SUPPORT FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PROBATION, PUBLIC DEFENSE, AND PROSECUTION. ANCILLARY FACILITIES, SUCH AS JURY DELIBERATION ROOMS, ARE LACKING OR INADEQUATE IN MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE COURTHOUSES STUDIED. LACK OF EFFECTIVE SECURITY IS A PROBLEM COMMON TO MORE THAN 95 PERCENT OF EXISTING FACILITIES. OF THE 53 SUBSTANDARD COURTHOUSES, 11 CATEGORIZED AS EXTREMELY POOR, 27 AS VERY POOR, AND 15 AS POOR. DURING PHASE TWO OF THE PROJECT, DETAILED IMPROVEMENTS OF EACH OF THE 101 FACILITIES WILL BE PRESENTED, ANALYZED, AND PRIORITIZED. A PRIORITY LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN THE AVAILABLE BUDGET. TABLES ARE PROVIDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)