Justification (Continued) "acting out" characteristics. The population now filtering into the system is a more militant and recalicitrant group than previously experienced and affords this type of custody. However, none of the existing ties at the Complex qualify as a medium facility. prc facili In order to meet the need for adequate facilities to house this ccted population, the Department proposes to construct three new 500-man Heium Security institutions for adult offenders. This project is one of hese three institutions. The remaining 500-man projected capacity will require another new institution in a future budget request. Agency Corrections (Justification - continued) criminal--consistent with the move toward home rule in the District as well as for purposes of efficiency and expedition. Likewise, The House District Committee stated in its report: 'Thus, the District will have a court system comparable to those of the states and other large municipalities... The bill provides The legislation responds to the recommendations of several study commissions. The D. C. Crime Commission concluded that, 'The District of Columbia needs a unified court system for the effective administration of criminal justifice.' Elaborating on this conclusion, the Judicial Council's Committee on the Administration of Justice recommended that 'The Court of General Sessions should be strengthened in many ways and become the local court of general jurisdiction to which ultimately most, if not all, of the local business of the U. S. District Court can be transferred.' (Policy Statement of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, March 1969, p.3) It recommended further that the Juvenile Court be transferred to the Court of General Sessions as a division thereof, and that the functionally autonomous Domestic Relations Branch be made a division in order to unify and coordinate the handling of all problems involving family relations within the same court. In addition, it recommended the appointment of a Court Executive, trained in high level management, who would be responsible for organizing and administering all the non-judicial activities of the court, provide centralized administrative control, and manage the day-to-day court operations. This new court system will replace the present fragmented court structure, which contains four local courts of limited jurisdiction and two federal courts with jurisdiction over more important cases. The existing fragmentation has been compounded by the fact that the courts of local jurisdiction have been physically housed in six different locations, causing coextensive logistical difficulties. Moreover, space and facility allocations have become seriously inadequate. A survey of judges and court related personnel prepared in April 1970, by the Georgetown Institute of Criminal Law and Procedure indicated that one of the top priorities mentioned by those surveyed was for more adequate space and facilities. Congress clearly envisions a modern, up-to-date facility, incorporating the best features of current technology and thought on the Since all local jurisdiction is to be brought under the new court system and the new Superior Court itself is to be an amalgamation Congress is greatly concerned with delays in the decision of both civil and criminal cases. Prompt disposition of cases is a major goal of the legislation, and physical facilities should be designed to facilitate the performance of the various steps in the judicial process. Both Houses expressed the purpose of enhancing the quality of justice to be administered by the new court system. An aspect of the quality of justice and respect for law sought to be engendered is the dignity of the courts' physical surroundings. ་ The House Committee stated that a principal aim of the legislation is to bring, ...the administration of justice closer to the people who are most personally affected thereby.' 3/ Due accommodation must be made in the new facility for the comfort of the citizenry in the various roles which citizens play in the judicial system, as sitnesses, jurors, litigants, and even as spectators. In addition, the citizen's need for information within the court system should be recognized--the courthouse should not be a bewildering maze of activities. 1/ Senate Managers' statement regarding conference action on S.2601, July 15, 1970, 91st Congress, 2d Session, p.5. 2/ House of Representatives 71-907, 91st Congress, 2d Session, p.23. 3/ House of Representatives 91-907, supra, p.34. |