Performance of the District Courts

Fiscal Year 2014 - 2015

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GOAL 1: TO ESTABLISH A MORE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE


Objective

1.2 To encourage responsible parties to make court facilities safe, accessible, and convenient.

Intent of the Objective

This objective addresses three distinct but related aspects of court performance—the security of persons and property within the courthouse and its facilities, access to the courthouse and its facilities, and the reasonable accommodation of the general public in court facilities. In Louisiana, local governments are generally responsible for providing suitable courtrooms, offices, juror facilities, furniture, and equipment to courts and for providing the necessary heat and lighting in these buildings. Local governments are also responsible for the safety, accessibility, and overall convenience of access to court facilities. The intent of Objective 1.2 is to encourage district courts and judges to work with others to make court facilities safe, accessible, and convenient.

Responses To Objective

  1. Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  2. Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to implement a Continuity of Operations/Disaster Recovery Plan.
  3. Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to implement safety and security measures.

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857691201What actions, if any, did your court take in FY 2014-2015 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
(Hover on the chart for more information and click on the chart to see which courts chose that response.)
Actions taken in FY 2014-2015 to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective
2nd JDC
The 2nd JDC maintained Braille signs in the Bienville Parish Courthouse.
4th JDC
The police jury removed a 100-plus year old live oak tree from the courthouse lawn to better protect the public and to prevent court users from being injured by falling limbs or branches. The court also updated and maintained a current list of foreign language interpreters.
6th JDC
The 6th JDC planned improvements to the courtroom in Madison Parish that will segregate inmates, victims and families. These improvements will be implemented along with improvements to the entire courthouse. The court also scheduled bailiff training for all three parishes.
11th JDC
The 11th JDC assisted in scheduling of routine maintenance of the elevator and provided infra-red headphones in the courtroom for the hearing-impaired.
16th JDC
The 16th JDC judges worked with local officials to ensure that the court’s physical facilities complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The court maintained a policy providing for ADA accessibility and compliance, including the placement of the ADA accommodation language on its juror subpoenas and the appointment of the Court Administrator to serve as the ADA Coordinator for the court. The court continued to develop policy and procedures to ensure ADA compliance, while individual judges made accommodations for individuals with disabilities when requested.

The family court program allowed parties to attend hearing officer conferences via Skype or conference call if in-person participation is too difficult due to a medical condition or other inability to travel. The judge assigned to the case must consent and the attorney for the party must attend the conference in person and have the authority to bind the client to a consent judgment if an agreement is reached. The court installed a large monitor in the hearing officer’s office to present information visually to assist hearing-impaired individuals.

The court monitored courtroom sound systems on a regular, ongoing basis and made improvements as needed. The court maintained assisted listening devices.

The court also maintained seven real-time court reporting systems and continued to provide support and training to court reporters to develop real-time court reporting skills. The court maintained a resource list of signers and Communication Access Realtime Translation service providers to secure services as needed.
20th JDC
The court established and maintained a ground-level courtroom to accommodate disabled parties, lawyers, and witnesses. This is necessary because the courthouse has no elevator.
24th JDC
The court provided information on its ADA policies, as well as procedures for requesting reasonable accommodations, on its web site.
26th JDC
The 26th JDC included matters pertaining to the ADA in orientation for all new employees. Additionally, on all jury summons forms, the court provided contact information for anyone needing disability accommodations pursuant to the ADA.
32nd JDC
Parking for individuals with a disability was maintained adjacent to the courthouse buildings. Sidewalks have been made handicap accessible adjacent to courthouse buildings. Headphones continued to be available in court to assist the hearing-impaired.
40th JDC
The court worked with the parish to renovate the courthouse, to make it more ADA-compliant and also more functional and comfortable for all.
East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court
The court continued to use court notices that include an accommodation statement, including contact information to request special accommodations.
Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court
The court planned for a 2016 renovation, including handicap accessibility for judges. The public restrooms will be updated with the most advanced handicap accessibility set-ups.
ResponseResponse_Court
Additional actions taken by the courts to address this objective12 courts (2nd JDC, 4th JDC, 6th JDC, 11th JDC, 16th JDC, 20th JDC, 24th JDC, 26th JDC, 32nd JDC, 40th JDC, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court)
Continued to address this objective through the actions indicated below, or implemented the following new actions in FY 2014-2015 to address this objective as indicated below:45 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 4th JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 8th JDC, 9th JDC, 10th JDC, 11th JDC, 12th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 19th JDC, 20th JDC, 21st JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 27th JDC, 28th JDC, 29th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 32nd JDC, 33rd JDC, 35th JDC, 36th JDC, 37th JDC, 38th JDC, 40th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court)
Developed or maintained ADA non-discrimination policies or court rules31 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 4th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 9th JDC, 10th JDC, 12th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 19th JDC, 21st JDC, 22nd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 28th JDC, 29th JDC, 30th JDC, 35th JDC, 36th JDC, 40th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court)
Developed or maintained an emergency evacuation procedure to accommodate disabled patrons/employees17 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 19th JDC, 22nd JDC, 24th JDC, 26th JDC, 29th JDC, 36th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court)
Developed or maintained written essential functions for court jobs14 courts (3rd JDC, 14th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 22nd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court)
Did not address in FY 2014-20153 courts (13th JDC, 34th JDC, 39th JDC)
Established or maintained a complaint procedure16 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 7th JDC, 9th JDC, 14th JDC, 20th JDC, 22nd JDC, 26th JDC, 36th JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court)
Established or maintained a list of available real-time court reporters and sign language interpreters31 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 4th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 9th JDC, 10th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 18th JDC, 19th JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 29th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 35th JDC, 36th JDC, 40th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court)
Posted or maintained signage (raised lettering, Braille, accessible restrooms, etc.)31 courts (1st JDC, 2nd JDC, 3rd JDC, 4th JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 9th JDC, 12th JDC, 14th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 19th JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 25th JDC, 26th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 32nd JDC, 33rd JDC, 35th JDC, 36th JDC, 38th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, East Baton Rouge Family Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court)
Posted public notices or communications of the availability of reasonable accommodations30 courts (4th JDC, 5th JDC, 6th JDC, 7th JDC, 8th JDC, 9th JDC, 12th JDC, 14th JDC, 15th JDC, 16th JDC, 17th JDC, 19th JDC, 22nd JDC, 23rd JDC, 24th JDC, 26th JDC, 27th JDC, 29th JDC, 30th JDC, 31st JDC, 33rd JDC, 35th JDC, 37th JDC, 38th JDC, 42nd JDC, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court)

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