Task Force on Courthouse Facilities Survey Report LEEDS/GRENVILLE COUNTY

Transcription

1 Task Force on Courthouse Facilities Survey Report LEEDS/GRENVILLE COUNTY Group 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS LEEDS/GRENVILLE COUNTY SUMMARY:... 2 SUPERIOR AND ONTARIO COURT (BROCKVILLE) SUMMARY....3 REPORT:... 4

3 County or District: Leeds/Grenville Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice 1 Court House Square, Brockville, Ontario Reported on by: Michael J. O Shaughnessy 1

4 County or District: Level of Court: Courthouse Address: Leeds/Grenville Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice 1 Court House Square, Brockville Summary: The respondent noted that this questionnaire was completed based on the new facility that is being constructed in Leeds/Grenville. Eleven million dollars was received for the restoration and renovation of the historical County Courthouse. Tenders for the construction will be let in November of this year with a completion date of spring of The respondent commented that they were fortunate to have received $11-million to renovate and restore and that they couldn t wait to take possession. The courthouse that is currently being renovated and restored was built in 1842 and is in good general repair. The building, although ancient, is in good condition. Once the courthouse is renovated and restored, it will be an excellent facility to meet current and future needs. No problems or concerns were reported. The courthouse is a focal point of the City of Brockville. From the steps of the courthouse, there is a grand view of the Green, the historic downtown, and the St. Lawrence River. When completed, the courthouse will be the most beautiful centre of justice in the country. 2

5 Report: 1. Use of this Courthouse The courthouse is used for criminal, family law and civil matters. There are no available user statistics. 2. External Features and Repairs The courthouse is an historical/heritage building in which the original structure has been respected and is in good repair. Internal heritage features have been adequately maintained. Internal aspects of the building used by the public are in adequate repair and housekeeping is adequate. 3. Ownership and Control The building is owned by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and is operated by the Ontario Realty Corporation. Lease payments are $1 a year and the lease expires in The square footage of the facility was not reported. The building has not been renovated in any substantial way in the last 10 years, but complete renovations, valued at $11-million, are underway or to be definitely implemented in the next two years. There is a user committee in place, of which the local law association is a member. The user committee is reported to be very effective in addressing needs associated with this facility, and the relations between the Ontario Realty Corporation and lawyer users of the facility are described as reasonable. 4. Courtrooms Three Superior Courtrooms and three Ontario Courtrooms are available in the facility. Courtroom facilities are adequate to accommodate growth and demand over the next 20 years. All six court rooms are described as adequate. 5. Lawyer-Client Meeting Rooms There are 12 lawyer-client meeting rooms in the courthouse which are adequate to meet reasonable demand, reasonably proximate to the courts they serve, provide reasonable privacy and are reasonably furnished. 6. Jury Facilities There is a jury room for each court equipped for jury trials. Jury rooms are adequate in terms of size and are adequately furnished. The rooms have a private entrance to the courtroom. The jury rooms have a washroom facility and the jury does not use public facilities in the courthouse or facilities in common with other users of the courthouse. 7. Public/Witness Accommodation Seating for the public and witnesses outside the courtrooms is sufficient. Persons in custody are not required to pass through a public area in order to access any courtroom. 3

6 There are no refreshment facilities available to the public in this courthouse. Men s and women s washroom facilities are adequate and adequately maintained and cleaned. There are no public access problems associated with this facility. The courthouse is accessible by public transit. There is paid public parking within reasonable distance of the courthouse, but there are inadequate parking spaces. There are no health or safety issues associated with this facility. 8. Accessibility for Disabled Persons In general, disabled access is described as adequate and the building has a functioning elevator. 9. Holding Cells The building has six holding facilities for persons in custody, which are in adequate repair. There are separate facilities for men and women, and segregated cells and segregated holding facilities for youth in custody, which have washroom facilities. There is direct private access from the holding facilities to the courts and there are no security issues raised in the instance of these holding facilities. Adequate conference facilities allow for private secure solicitor-client conferences. 10. Lawyer s Facilities The building has a lounge or similar space for the exclusive use of lawyers. There are private phone facilities for lawyers. The building has separate gowning facilities for men and women, which have washrooms and lockers. The facilities for both men and women are described as adequate and in an adequate general state of maintenance. 11. Judges Chambers/Facilities The courthouse has three chambers for Superior Court judges, three chambers for Ontario Court judges, and one chamber for the Justice of the Peace, all of which are adequately furnished and sufficient to accommodate reasonably foreseeable growth. None of these chambers are shared. All judges chambers provide for secure and private access to and egress from each court. 12. Crown Attorney Offices The courthouse has offices for Crown attorneys that accommodate existing needs. Crown facilities have a separate office security system that is operated during after hours. This security system has not been tested by any incidents, but is considered adequate by the Crown s office. 13a. Other Administrative Space/Use: Court Administration There are court administration offices and officials that are adequate for existing needs. 4

7 13b. Other Administrative Space/Use: Court Reporters Offices There are court reporters offices that are adequate for existing needs. 13c. Other Administrative Space/Use: Duty Counsel There is a facility for duty counsel, which is adequate for existing needs, but the respondent did not describe the facility. The courthouse has a Family Law Information Centre. 13d. Other Administrative Space/Use: Legal Aid There is a legal aid office that is adequate to meet existing needs. 13e. Other Administrative Space/Use: Victim/Witness Assistance Program There is a Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) office that is adequate to meet existing needs. The courthouse has a witness room and can currently accommodate integrated justice facility requirements. 13f. Other Administrative Space/Use: Media The courthouse has a media room that meets existing needs. 14. Libraries The courthouse has a library facility that is needed and used by members of the Bar, Crown officers, judges and lawyers. There is sufficient space within the library for lawyers to work and the facilities are adequate to meet existing needs. A librarian works on-site and computer facilities are available to users. The County and District Law Association and the jointly administer the library. There were no current issues reported with respect to the space utilized by the library. 15. Other Security Matters The overall level of security is described as good for courthouse staff, Crown officers, judges, lawyers, persons under custody and the general public. There appears to be sufficient court security for members of the Bar, Crown attorneys, the judiciary, the police, court staff and the public. There is no metal detector. One police officer is posted at the building, which is regarded as sufficient. The building has a functioning burglar alarm, but security officers do not service the building 24-hours a day. Security systems and resources have not diminished over the past three years. No ineffectively handled security-related incidents have occurred during the past three years. 5

8 16. Prospects and Future Needs No requirements to meet existing needs in this facility or upgrading to meet anticipated future needs over the next 10 years were reported. 6