Facility Security

Security concerns fall into two categories: The lack of 3 tiers of security in the existing Courthouse between judicial staff, the public, and prisoners, and a lack of security at many of the individual Department service counters. There is no security screening at front door which poses potential security issues.

 

Lack of Secure Corridor

The current facility does not include a dedicated, secure corridor for the transfer of inmates between the jail and courtrooms. As a result, inmates must be escorted through areas that are accessible to the public and staff, creating safety, security, and privacy concerns for all parties involved.

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A secure corridor is essential to provide a controlled, direct path that minimizes public interaction and reduces the risk of incidents, delays, or disruptions to court operations. This separation helps maintain a safe environment for visitors, employees, and law enforcement personnel.

 

Department Wayfinding

Visitors often experience difficulty navigating departments due to unclear layouts and limited signage. The project will improve wayfinding through better spatial organization, clear signage, and intuitive building design to allow the public to an eased experience.

 

General Government Reorganization

There is an opportunity to reorganize layout of General Government Departments to create greater efficiency, better service to users, and potential space savings.

 

Conference / Meeting Rooms

With increasing collaboration between departments and in-person virtual meetings, there is a growing need for more general-purpose conference /meeting rooms.

 

ADA Accessibility

The facility has limited accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The project will bring the building into compliance with ADA standards, ensuring equitable access to services, meeting spaces, and public areas for the community.

 

Aging Infrastructure

The 68-year-old courthouse is experiencing serious infrastructure problems. Many of its mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are failing. While these systems could be replaced, it would require tearing out much of the building’s interior which is a very expensive process.

 

Visit the "Existing Conditions" page of this website for pictures and details to learn more about issues the Government Center is facing.