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~rt~ 3 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Dale: September 4, 2001 <br />Action Agentla <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Hillsbomugh Judicial Faulities Expansicn Planning Process <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing antl Cen[rol PUBLIC HEARING: (VIN) No <br />Services <br />ATTACHMENT(SI: INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones (9191246-2652 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732A781 <br />Chapel HIII gfi8<561 <br />Ourham 688-]331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2631 <br />PURPOSE: To mnsitler approving a planning process [o be usetl in Me DesigNCOnstruclion of <br />the Justice FacilMes Expansion Project. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Odg net Jus[ce Fec IR'ea Stutlv <br />In 1994, Me Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed a group to study [he long-tens <br />needs of justice facilities in Orange Count'. All judicial functions within Me County were <br />represented In the Justice FacilRies Stutly Group. The results of their eROrts were refleotetl in s <br />report publishetl in July 1995. <br />EROrte to Atltlresa Most Cdticel Neetls <br />The amps of the long-term neetls as itlenlifled by the Group were extensive. The County's <br />ability to untlertake expansion of this magnitude was limited. To Met end.mmponente <br />exhibiting [he greatest need ware mnsidered separately and two projects specific to those <br />neetls ini[ia[etl. <br />• The Jail Expansion project mmpletetl in eatly 1998 atldetl 68 betls to the existing ]1, <br />thereby raising Me total capacity in the tail to 128. Although capacity of the Jeil is <br />inatleguate forihe long-term, ccopere[ion between Me Shedffs Department antl lutlges has <br />servetl M minimize ovemrowtling. The Federal Marshal continues M use the Orange County <br />Jail as a major tlepot for prisoners. <br />• The atltlilion of the GOMOn Baffle Courtroom in eatly 1998 allowetl the heavier volume <br />Distdct Coud to utilize the large courtroom on the main floor as its primary mart location. A <br />greater flexibility in scheduling various courtrooms was agreetl M among Me jutlges, thereby <br />allowing a mare eRicient use pattern of all courtrooms. <br />A second group of Judicial OMcials end County staff were convenetl later in 1996 to evaluate <br />the impact of these two expansions. Although these changes may have negetetl the need for <br />