April 10, 2008 |
2008-R-0250 | |
SPACE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE RAISING THE AGE OF JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION | ||
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By: Susan Price, Principal Legislative Analyst | ||
You asked if the Judicial Branch has requested new facilities as a result of legislation that raises the age for juvenile court jurisdiction from 16 to 18 beginning January 1, 2010.
The Judicial Branch estimates that it will need additional space to accommodate the raise the age legislation, which will at least double the current caseload at juvenile facilities. Deborah Fuller, the Judicial Branch's legislative liaison, indicates that many juvenile facilities are currently inadequate or bordering on inadequate and will not be able to absorb the caseload and significant staff increases associated with the new law. The staffing increases include additional court support services personnel, including juvenile probation officers, as well as juvenile prosecutors and public defenders.
The branch's current implementation plan takes a regional approach intended to maximize the use of existing owned and leased space while retaining the statewide distribution of juvenile courts and related services. Table 1 shows its implementation plan, broken down by anticipated court location.
Table 1: Judicial Branch Implementation Plan
Location |
Space Issues |
Bridgeport – Golden Hill St. |
Existing space expected to be adequate New Juvenile Matters/Detention Center scheduled to open in 2008 |
Bristol – Main St. |
Existing space adequate if adult probation is transferred to New Britain |
Hartford – Broad St. |
Existing space adequate with 3rd floor renovation for court support services |
New Britain – Franklin Sq. |
May need to lease new space if adult probation is transferred from Bristol |
Meriden/Middletown – Colony St. |
Department of Public Works (DPW)/Office of Policy and Management (OPM) are assisting with plans to locate entire juvenile matters operation at a new leased site Meriden/Middletown Juvenile Matters Court expected to open in 2011 |
New Haven – to be determined |
New facility lease request submitted to DPW/OPM |
Norwalk – Belden Ave. |
DPW assisting in acquiring new leased space for entire juvenile matters operation |
Rockville – School St. |
Some space that would have been vacated upon lease expiration will be retained Juvenile Matters Court expected to open in 2011 |
Stamford – Hoyt St. |
Likely to lease new space for adult probation to free up space for juvenile matters |
Torrington – Winsted Rd. |
Some space that would have been vacated upon lease expiration will be retained if the new courthouse cannot handle the entire juvenile population New full-service courthouse expected to open in 2011 |
Waterbury – Prospect St. |
Existing leased space expected to be adequate |
Waterford – Hartford Tpk. |
Likely to need new leased space for court support services |
Willimantic – 108 Valley St. |
Existing space expected to be adequate |
Source: Judicial Branch presentation to Juvenile Justice Policy & Operations Coordinating Council, January 24, 2008
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