Rutland County Superior Court - Evaluation of Existing and Future Facility Needs

• NCJ Number: 76203
• Author(s): K Ricci
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 25 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-011-78
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The current and future needs for space for the superior court, probate court, clerk of the court, and the sheriff of Rutland County, Vt., are assessed, and strategies for meeting the court's space needs are proposed.

Abstract

The study was prompted by the pending addition of a superior court judge and by the space constraints of the existing physical plant, which was built in 1869. Study data were gathered via a site visit, interviews, and a review of the plans of the existing facilities. Using national standards and local practice as a guide, current and future space requirements were then determined. The current facility's main strengths are its interior design, and its excellent exterior condition. Major problem areas are lack of adequate space for the clerks, the probate judges, and the new judge; lack of air conditioning and efficiency in energy use; absence of parking space; difficulty of evacuation in case of an emergency; lack of secure holding areas; absence of an area for horizontal expansion of the building; and lack of access to the second floor for the handicapped. Future short-term space needs include a public area, judges' areas, superior clerk's area, probate court register area, employee lounge, and others. A total of 12,495 square feet are needed; about 9,793 square feet of net assignable space exists. Viable solutions for resolving the space problems should maintain the judiciary's integrity, keep the courthouse functioning, be confined to county-owned property, provide parking, and make maximum use of unused space in the current building. Current state-of-the-art design guidelines should be followed for facility expansion. The three basic options for expansion are to maximize usage of unused space, to add a third floor to the building's addition, and to purchase additional land. Costs and benefits of each option should be evaluated. Architects should be hired to conduct the planning and to develop design and construction documents. Tables and diagrams showing the building's interior are included.