NCJ Number
49925
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES THE ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITION AND POTENTIAL USES OF THE OLD COURTHOUSE BUILDING.
Abstract
THE OLD MARICOPA COUNTY (ARIZ.) COURTHOUSE SOON TO BE OCCUPIED BY THE SIX METROPOLITAN PHOENIX JUSTICE COURTS, HAS SEVERAL DISTINCT ADVANTAGES OVER CURRENT JUSTICE COURT FACILITIES. IT IS COUNTY OWNED, AND IT IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND. ITS TOTAL AREA IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR JUSTICE COURT NEEDS: HOWEVER, THE ARRANGEMENT OF SPACE IN THE COURTHOUSE IS NOT ENTIRELY USEFUL BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCES IN JURISDICTIONS AND MODES OF OPERATION OF THE SUPERIOR AND JUSTICE COURTS. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WERE NOTED: (1) MANY OF THE EXISTING COURTROOMS ARE TOO LARGE, (2) THE RATIO OF JURY TO BENCH TRIALS IS LOWER, (3) JURIES INCLUDE ONLY SIX PERSONS, AND (4) THE JUSTICE COURTS' STAFFS ARE LOCATED IN THEIR CLERKS' OFFICES RATHER THAN IN THE JUDGES' CHAMBERS. EFFECTIVE RELOCATION OF THE JUSTICE COURTS INTO THE OLD COURTHOUSE REQUIRES A SPACE USE PLAN SUITED TO PRACTICAL NEEDS, AND IT MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT WHICH ARE INHERENT IN THE OLD COURTHOUSE. ONE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO DETERMINE HOW TO USE THE OLD COURTHOUSE WITH NECESSARY INTERNAL RENOVATIONS, TO PROVIDE FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE SIX JUSTICE COURTS AND TO CONSOLIDATE CLERICAL OPERATIONS. CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CREATION OF A DISTRICT COURT. OPTIONS WERE EXAMINED CONCERNING THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE INCLUDING THE COURTHOUSE AND CITY HALL WINGS FOR IMMEDIATE USE BY THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE LONG-RANGE POSSIBILITIES FOR A DISTRICT COURT. TWO DISTINCT APPROACHES DESCRIBED THE FEASIBILITY OF JUSTICE COURT OCCUPANCY, AND LOCATION OF COURTROOMS AND CLERICAL AREAS ARE DETERMINED. PUBLIC ACCESS, CIRCULATION, AND PROVISIONS FOR SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR EXPANSIONS ARE SAID TO BE OF PRIME IMPORTANCE. FIGURES AND TABULAR DATA FOR THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDED PLANS ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)