Imperial County, New El Centro Family Courthouse

Facts
In anticipation of additional cost-cutting measures, all facts are subject to change. More information

Courtrooms: 4
Square footage: 53,983
Current authorized budget: $59,484,000
Estimated construction costs per square foot are being updated
Current status: Architectural design: preliminary plans; will proceed when funding is available
Current expected completion date: 2 Q 2016

The main courthouse is the historic Imperial County Courthouse, built in 1923. Three of its seven courtrooms are dedicated to family law and family support calendars.

The Juvenile Courthouse, constructed in 1976, is located adjacent to the county juvenile hall and county detention facility. This courthouse has one courtroom for both delinquency and dependency calendars and is severely undersized and functionally deficient. The Juvenile Courthouse is also occupied by several county agencies.

The proposed project would provide a new four-courtroom facility that will consolidate all family and juvenile court functions in one location. The new courthouse will consolidate three family court calendars from the Imperial County Courthouse and one juvenile court calendar from the Juvenile Court. The Imperial County Courthouse will continue to be used as the main criminal and civil courthouse after the new building is constructed.

The AOC is considering acquiring sites in an area near Wake Avenue, between South Clark Road and South Fourth Street, midway between the County Courthouse and Juvenile Hall. The project’s original feasibility report, published in 2008, identified a potential site adjacent to the existing juvenile court on land owned by the Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE).  However, that site lacked the necessary utility infrastructure (grading, storm drainage, sewer, fire hydrants, power, street improvements, traffic lights, landscaping, etc.). After investigating the cost of extending infrastructure to the site and lengthy discussions with the ICOE and Imperial County, the AOC and the court have decided to pursue other potential sites endorsed by the Project Advisory Group to prevent further delays in the project schedule and risks to the project budget. The AOC recently informed the ICOE and Imperial County of this decision.

Courthouse Reassessment

April 2012: Due to the current fiscal crisis, the project is being reassessed to determine the number of courtrooms needed. Once that is confirmed, the project scope will be revised and lower-cost construction methods will be explored. As we learn more, this project web page will be updated.