For architects and courthouse planners, designing a courthouse's central detention area, sometimes called the central lockup, is a specialized aspect of the overall planning for a courthouse. This vital task demands the careful consideration of security, adjacencies, separation of circulation, and providing a safe environment for courthouse security staff and detainees.
In a courthouse, the central detention area is a designated space within the facility where individuals who are in custody are temporarily held when they are scheduled to appear in court. Typically, it’s where law enforcement officers would bring the defendants to the courthouse when they come from a jail for the day, or for their first appearance or arraignment.
The central detention area is a suite of spaces that as a whole should have three different zones of circulation: the secure zone for detainee movement and holding cells, a restricted zone for law enforcement and court security, and a public zone for attorneys visiting their detained clients.
The central detention area is specifically designed to ensure the safety and security of detainees, court staff, legal professionals, and the public. The following sections will explore the elements essential to achieving a secure and efficient courthouse detention facility. Each element has its own set of specialized standards. I will give a brief description of each element and an overview of how they fit together to create a safe and efficient detention area.
Secure and Separate Entry Point for Detainees
A secure sally port—a controlled entry garage for law enforcement vehicles—is essential for the safe and secure transfer of detainees arriving at the courthouse and central detention area.
Full security camera coverage is essential, as are duress alarms to quickly signal the need for immediate assistance in an emergency.
Intake and Processing Room
The intake and processing room is required to screen and process detainees upon arrival. The space should allow for identification checks, medical screening, and intake documentation.
The room layout should support staff supervision, reduce the risk of detainee altercations, and include duress alarms for safety. A bench or holding cell should be provided to temporarily secure individuals during processing. Additionally, a shower should be included to allow for decontamination if needed.
The room should be positioned along the secure circulation path, adjacent to the sally port entry, and directly connected to the holding cells through secure access.
Holding Cells
Cells in a courthouse’s central detention area serve different purposes and must be designed to accommodate a range of detention needs. The type and number of cells are categorized in the following way:
All cells should be provided with detention-grade benches, sinks, and toilet fixtures that are tamper proof and suicide-resistant. At least one cell of each type should be ADA compliant. Direct security camera view of the inside of the cell is vital, but security cameras and other security features such as duress alarms should be outside the cell.
Control Room
A modern courthouse central detention area will be monitored and controlled from a central location. The control room is the nerve center of the detention area, equipped with technology for the monitoring of security cameras throughout the detention area, communication, duress alarm monitoring, and emergency response.
In a smaller courthouse, the control room may have a direct line of sight to the cells. However, in modern courthouses—where multiple cells and sight-and-sound separation are required—maintaining direct visibility is often impractical. A more effective solution is a control room equipped with modern security cameras and monitors, which can provide broader and more reliable coverage than direct observation alone.
Consider integrating the detention area control room with the building’s main security monitoring room. Combining these control centers allows for centralized surveillance and communication, enhancing overall security oversight.
An integrated control room can monitor not only the detention area but also other critical courthouse locations, including courtrooms, restricted corridors, the lobby screening area, and main entry points.
Attorney-Detainee Consultation Rooms
Attorney-detainee consultation rooms are designed to facilitate secure, confidential conversations between attorneys and detainees.
These rooms are dual-entry: one side connects directly to the secure detention area for the detainee, while the other is accessed by the attorney through restricted circulation, ideally located near public areas for convenience. A windowed partition separates the two sides, maintaining security while allowing clear communication.
The rooms must be acoustically sealed to protect privacy. A small vision panel in the door allows staff to monitor for safety without compromising confidentiality. Duress alarms should be installed on the attorney side, and the rooms must be fully ADA-compliant to ensure accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities.
Secure Vestibules or “Traps”
A secure vestibule, commonly referred to as a “trap,” is a transitional space with doors at each end, designed so that both doors cannot be opened simultaneously. This ensures controlled and secure movement between different zones.
Traps should be installed at all transition points between the secure detention circulation and adjacent areas, such as public corridors or staff offices. A trap is also required between the vehicle sally port and the main detention area.
Each trap should include an intercom connected to the control room and a duress alarm. Doors should be electronically controlled—either by keypad access or remotely unlocked from the control room.
Court security officers responsible for monitoring detainees in the detention area or escorting them to courtrooms require a dedicated office within the detention area. This space can also serve visiting law enforcement officers who transport detainees to and from the courthouse.
The office should be located in a restricted area directly adjacent to the secure holding cells. It should include seating, work surfaces, and charging stations for equipment such as radios.
Miscellaneous Spaces
Some other spaces in the secure and restricted zones of the central detention area are as follows:
Secure Access to Courtrooms
Transporting detainees between the central detention area and courtrooms typically requires a dedicated detainee elevator. This elevator must provide secure vertical circulation that avoids any intersection with public areas or the restricted circulation used by judges, jurors, and staff.
The elevator should be detention-grade and equipped with security features such as surveillance cameras, duress alarms, and secure access controls. A detainee enclosure within the cab should also be included to ensure the safety of both detainees and escorting officers during transport.
Courtroom Holding Cells
Courtroom holding cells differ from those in the central detention area in that they are located adjacent to courtrooms, providing direct and secure access. These cells are intended for short-term use, holding detainees while they await the start of a trial or hearing, or during recesses in proceedings.
Ideally, each courtroom should have a dedicated holding cell. However, in some layouts, two courtrooms may share a pair of holding cells and a detainee elevator, as illustrated in the graphic below.
Courtroom holding cells should incorporate the same detention-grade design and security features as those in the central detention area, including plumbing fixtures for use during court recesses. Providing restroom access within these cells is essential, as transporting detainees back to the central detention area for such needs requires significant time and staff resources.
Designing courthouse detention facilities requires close collaboration among multiple disciplines—including architecture, HVAC, plumbing and electrical design, security, law enforcement, and key courthouse stakeholders.
The space should be adaptable to accommodate evolving security technologies, changing legal standards, and fluctuations in detainee populations. Incorporating flexible design elements—such as scalable and upgradeable surveillance systems—helps future-proof the facility and ensure long-term functionality and compliance.
The ultimate goal is a facility that upholds justice, preserves dignity, and ensures the safety of detainees, staff, and the public.