As fans of the iconic Yellowstone television franchise can attest, the difficult topic of child trafficking was front and center in a recent two-part episode of the popular new network spin-off series Marshals. It’s unfortunately understandable why the show’s creators felt the topic was relevant:

 It started with a contradiction.

Over the past two decades, one fast-growing county where we were engaged to perform court planning had added tens of thousands of residents. As part of our work, we examined the trends shaping the courts and the broader community. New subdivisions replaced open...

 Across the United States, courthouse construction doesn’t always align with long-term needs. Some jurisdictions build facilities with more space than they ultimately use, while others face crowded courtrooms and limited space for judges, staff, and the public.

Courthouses are commonly associated with formal legal proceedings, complex legal language, and critical decisions. Nevertheless, for many individuals, walking into a courthouse is not solely about following legal protocols. It is an emotional experience that can be nerve-wracking, intimidating, or...

When people think about security, they often picture cameras, alarms, and locked doors. While these tools are important, they are only one part of a comprehensive approach to safety. How a property is designed, organized, and maintained can be just as critical in preventing incidents and promoting...