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og <br /> 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 Services PUBUC HEARING: (YIN) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Pam Jones(919)245-2652 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough 7324181 <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 the <br /> Justice Facilities Expansion Project. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> Oricinal Justice Facilities Study <br /> In 1994 the Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed a group to study the long-term needs of <br /> justice facilities in Orange County. All judicial functions within the County were represented in the <br /> Justice Facilities Study Group. The results of their efforts were reflected in a report published in July <br /> 1995. <br /> Efforts to Address Most Critical Needs <br /> The scope of the long-term needs as identified by the Group was extensive. The County's ability to <br /> undertake expansion of this magnitude was limited. To that end, components exhibiting the greatest <br /> need were considered separately and two projects specific to those needs initiated. <br /> • The Jail Expansion project completed in early 1998 added 58 beds to the existing 71,thereby raising <br /> the total capacity in the jail to 128. Although capacity of the Jail Is inadequate for the long-term, <br /> cooperation between the Sheriff's Department and judges has served to minimize overcrowding. <br /> The Federal Marshal continues to use the Orange County Jail as a major depot for prisoners. <br /> • The addition of the Gordon Battle Courtroom in early 1998 allowed the heavier volume bistrict Court <br /> to utilize the large courtroom on the main floor as its primary court location. A greater flexibility in <br /> scheduling various courtrooms was agreed to among the judges,thereby allowing a more efficient <br /> use pattern of all courtrooms. <br /> A second group of Judicial Officials and County staff were convened later in 1998 to evaluate the impact <br /> of these two expansions. Although these changes may have negated the need for further expansion for <br /> up to a decade, the group agreed that the long-term need still exists and that a proactive approach to <br /> development was critical. <br /> . •• ... ,.. . _• _ _ • nn nn ------ <br />