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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 4, 2001 <br />' Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~~~ <br />SUBJECT: Hillsborough Judicial Facilities Expansion Planning Process <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing and Central PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Services <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones (919) 245-2652 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approving a planning process to be used in the Design/construction of <br />the Justice Facilities Expansion Project. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Original Justice Facilities Study <br />In 1994, the Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed a group to study the long-term <br />needs of justice facilities in Orange County. All judicial functions within the County were <br />represented in the Justice Facilities Study Group. The results of their efforts were reflected in a <br />report published in July 1995. <br />Efforts to Address Most Critical Needs <br />The scope of the long-term needs as identified by the Group were extensive. The County's <br />ability to undertake expansion of this magnitude was limited. To that end, components <br />exhibiting the greatest need were considered separately and two projects specific to those <br />needs initiated. - <br />• The Jail Expansion project completed in early 1998 added 58 beds to the existing 71, <br />thereby raising the total capacity in the jail to 128. Although capacity of the Jail is <br />inadequate for the long-term, cooperation between the Sheriffs Department and judges has <br />served to minimize overcrowding. The Federal Marshal continues to use the Orange County <br />Jail as a major depot for prisoners. <br />• The addition of the Gordon Battle Courtroom in early 1998 allowed the heavier volume <br />District Court to utilize the large courtroom on the main floor as its primary court location. A <br />greater flexibility in scheduling various courtrooms was agreed to among the judges, thereby <br />allowing a more efFcient use pattern of all courtrooms. <br />A second group of Judicial Officials and County staff were convened later in 1998 to evaluate <br />the impact of these two expansions. Although these changes may have negated the need for <br />