As a court planner, I’ve visited many courthouses that are relics from a prior era that no longer meet the court's needs today. I’ve also toured a smaller number of newer courthouses designed to adapt and evolve as the court and community's needs change. In this article, I’ll discuss a few...

Community rooms inside police stations have emerged as invaluable assets for the police, citizens, and the entire community's well-being.

With the changes in the law enforcement landscape over the past several years, community engagement is necessary for effective policing within a community....

We often find challenges in courthouse planning due to a lack of space for courtrooms, offices, waiting areas, and support services. Inefficient layout designs can confuse visitors, attorneys, and staff, making it challenging to navigate the courthouse. This can lead to overcrowding, long wait...

When you hear the words “security assessment,” it is common to associate them with surveillance cameras, access control, and visitor vetting (e.g., ID scanning and appointment verification). As a security assessor, I need to understand what keeps a facility and its occupants safe, which may mean...

As a court planner, I am frequently involved in the initial planning stages of new courthouses. Clients often respond that incorporating daylighting is important when considering design goals. I couldn't agree more. In my view, one location offers the best potential for incorporating daylight—the...