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New York State Court Facilities Task Force - Report and Recommendations

NCJ Number
88206
Date Published
1982
Length
178 pages
Annotation
This report presents recommendations from a task force designated to identify inadequacies in New York State courtroom facilities and make recommendations for improvements that will involve modest costs.
Abstract
A principal source of information for the study consisted of findings from a comprehensive 5-year survey of the conditions of all of the State's 299 court facilities. In addition to the survey, task force members inspected courthouses in 10 counties, and beginning in June 1981, a committee of task force members worked closely with New York City and court officials to identify immediate problems in courthouses, monitor corrective action taken, and conduct a survey by court personnel of all maintenance and custodial problems in New York City courthouses. The report and recommendations offer a program for an immediate increase in the State's financial role in restoring and maintaining adequate court facilities at comparatively modest additional costs. The task force recommends immediate remedial steps to improve fire safety and security programs in courthouses throughout the State. Recommendations are also offered for a program to address physical safety and security deficiencies in courthouses. Other actions include a proposed plan to address serious acoustical problems in courtrooms. A special task force committee offers recommendations for adopting and implementing statewide guidelines for public information services and directional signs in courthouses. The appendixes contain reports on the estimated costs of 'turning around' State court buildings, guidelines for New York State court facilities, and a report on financing alternatives for new court construction.