« Ind. Courts - Court of Appeals to hold oral argument at DePauw University in high profile case | Main | Courts - Electronic Filing on Federal Appeal: What Does the Future Hold? »
Monday, November 20, 2006
Ind. Courts - More on: Centralize many of Lake County's 27 courts?
Following up on this ILB entry from Nov. 11th and this one from Nov. 13th, the NWI Times had an editorial yesterday titled "Lake County needs fewer courthouses, fewer courts." Some quotes:
A review of Lake County court operations has led to a politically sensitive suggestion: Consolidate the 27 courts and possibly move some to a central location, possibly Crown Point.It's a solid idea.
The theory behind operating four courthouses -- in Crown Point, East Chicago, Gary and Hammond -- is to bring the government to the people, making essential services more accessible.
But there are drawbacks to that approach, too.
The National Center for State Courts, working on the privately funded Good Government Initiative study, told local judges consolidating the courts might increase their efficiency.
Gary, Hammond and East Chicago are not far apart. It makes little sense to maintain courthouses in all three cities. If a presence in northern Lake County must be maintained, pick one of the cities for a courthouse and jettison the other two courthouses.
"What I think the national center is looking to implement is more cohesiveness: centralized administration, centralized probation departments, centralized public defender staffs, centralized courts," said Chief Lake County Superior Court Judge John Pera.
The consultant's report hasn't been released, but the concept of consolidating courts is very promising.
For criminal courts, especially, it would be easier for logistics -- including court security and transporting prisoners -- to have fewer buildings to worry about.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 20, 2006 09:48 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts