JUSTICE FACILITIES AND THEIR CIVIC ROLE By Kyle Yardley, Justice Practice Leader, Partner Public projects rarely fail because of a lack of engagement. In fact, most include extensive meetings, workshops, and public input sessions. Yet many still encounter misalignment, public resistance, or late-stage changes that erode confidence. The issue is not effort, it’s structure. Engagement builds
trust when it is led with intention, sequenced thoughtfully, and grounded in leadership—not treated as a series of disconnected meetings. At its core, engagement is a leadership function.
ARCHITECTURE | INTERIOR DESIGN | URBAN DESIGN & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING | CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION | BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS | SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
THE JUSTICE INFRASTRUCTURE ECOSYSTEM The justice system functions through coordinated processes linking law enforcement, detention, courts and supporting services. Each component performs a distinct role, but system performance depends on how effectively these components interact.
Courts, detention facilities and law enforcement agencies collectively uphold the rule of law. These institutions form the operational framework through which communities adjudicate disputes, enforce laws and maintain public safety. Justice facilities are the physical environments where this work occurs. They are highly specialized buildings that must balance strict security requirements with public accessibility and civic presence. Unlike conventional building types, they serve both operational and symbolic roles, supporting complex internal functions while representing the authority and legitimacy of the legal system. Despite their interdependence, justice facilities have historically been delivered as separate capital projects. Courthouses, jails, and sheriff operations are often planned and constructed at different times based on immediate needs and available funding. This incremental approach is largely unavoidable but can result in fragmented systems where facilities are not optimally aligned with one another. In practice, these institutions operate as a unified system. Law enforcement generates cases, detention facilities house individuals awaiting trial or sentencing, and courts adjudicate outcomes. Sheriff departments frequently bridge these functions by managing detention operations, court security and inmate transport. Recognizing these relationships is fundamental to effective planning.
Detainee movement is a primary example. Individuals must be securely transported between detention facilities and courtrooms, requiring controlled circulation systems that maintain separation from the public while supporting efficient operations. Similarly, evidence handling, staff coordination, and case processing rely on close interaction between agencies. When facilities are planned independently, these operational gaps can become inefficient. Long-distance transport of inmates increases staffing demands and security risks. Dispersed facilities can duplicate infrastructure and complicate coordination among agencies. Understanding the justice system as an integrated ecosystem highlights the importance of aligning facilities to support these interdependent workflows.
most likely location for a future detention replacement. This approach would improve long-term operational efficiency by simplifying detainee transport and strengthening coordination between court security and detention operations. It also creates a framework for future expansion. Image caption: An alternative site strategy shifted the location of a new courthouse from the original county-selected site (“A”) to a new location (“B”).
An alternative site strategy shifted the location of a new courthouse from the original county-selected site (“A”) to a new location (“B”).
Image caption: The concept located a new courthouse next to an existing jail and aligned it with the most likely location for a potential future jail replacement and justice building. This example demonstrates how early planning decisions, particularly site selection, can influence justice system performance for decades.
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND CAMPUS STRATEGIES Viewing justice facilities as civic infrastructure shifts planning from individual buildings to system-level organization. Across many jurisdictions, this has led to the development of justice campuses or civic districts that co-locate related functions within a coordinated framework. Because justice facilities are often funded separately, long-term planning is critical. Each project must be evaluated not only on its immediate needs but also on how it supports future phases of development. Co-locating justice functions offers clear operational advantages. Locating courthouses near detention facilities reduces the need for extensive prisoner transport and allows for secure connections such as tunnels or enclosed bridges. Shared infrastructure, including parking, circulation and perimeter security, can reduce redundancy and improve efficiency. Proximity also enhances coordination among judges, attorneys and sheriff staff. Equally important, campus planning supports long-term flexibility. Justice systems evolve due to changes in population, policy, and technology. A coordinated site strategy allows jurisdictions to anticipate expansion and maintain functional relationships as new facilities are developed. CASE EXAMPLE: LONG-TERM CAMPUS PLANNING The value of system-level planning is particularly evident in courthouse site selection. In one project, a county initially selected a site for a new district courthouse adjacent to its existing circuit court. While this approach consolidated court functions, the site was not well aligned with the county jail, which was nearing the end of its useful life. Although a connection to the existing jail was feasible, a future relocation of the jail facility would have resulted in inefficient prisoner transport. Through a broader system analysis, the project team proposed an alternative site strategy. The revised concept located the courthouse adjacent to the existing jail and aligned it with the
The concept located a new courthouse next to an existing jail and aligned it with the most likely location for a potential future jail replacement and justice building. IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE DESIGN As jurisdictions modernize justice facilities, project teams must consider how individual buildings fit within the broader system. Designing a courthouse or detention facility requires an understanding of operational relationships across the justice ecosystem. • Key planning considerations include: • Detainee movement between facilities • Location of sheriff operations relative to courts and detentio • Opportunities for phased expansion within a coordinated campus These operational priorities must be balanced with the civic role of justice facilities. Buildings must provide secure environments while also supporting transparency, accessibility, and public trust.