FY2013 - FY2017 Capital Investment Plan
Report - Investment Category - Courts

The Commonwealth’s judiciary operates over 100 active court facilities, with approximately 5.5 million gross square feet of space, in 60 communities across the Commonwealth.  A majority of the facilities are state-owned and operated, but many are a combination of county and privately-leased facilities.  Capital spending and leasing for judiciary projects is administered through DCAM, in collaboration with the Trial Court administration. 

The following graph reflects the Administration’s estimated capital investment in court capital projects over the next five years, as compared to fiscal years 2007 and 2012 courts related spending. Once the Trial Court finishes their strategic plan, the Administration plans to increase funding for court projects over five years.

Policy Goals

The Administration’s goals for court capital investments include the following:

1. Support the Trial Court in their Strategic Planning Process. The Trial Court’s strategic plan will forecast the Court’s future needs and priorities in serving the people of Massachusetts and develop strategies for effectively providing a high quality, widely accessible and technology supported justice system.
2. Continued investment in upgrading the capital facilities for the Judiciary.  The capital investment plan aims to build on significant progress that has been made towards upgrading the facilities of the Trial Court to ensure that security, life safety, accessibility and functionality needs are met. 

Administration Accomplishments to Date

• The Trial Court leadership and DCAM have implemented a courts capital infrastructure improvement program centered on consolidated comprehensive justice centers and improvements to accessibility, energy efficiency and building conditions throughout the system. These multi-departmental justice centers provide one-stop service for the public and the legal community and offer opportunities for improved efficiencies and coordinated operations for the Trial Court. 
• Since 2007, the following new state-of-the-art multi-departmental court facilities have been completed and opened, representing a total of 64 courtrooms, 1.1 million square feet and over $500 million of capital investment in new or renovated space. Completed projects include:
  • A new Worcester Trial Court on Main Street in downtown Worcester for a total project cost of $180 million;
  • The Plymouth Trial Court, a state-of-the-art facility containing Superior, District, Juvenile, Housing and Probate & Family court departments, with a total project cost of $71 million;
  • The new Fall River Trial Court which provides space for the Bristol County Superior Court criminal sessions and Fall River District Court, with a total project cost of $85 million;
  • The new Taunton Trial Court which contains eight courtrooms serving the District Court, Juvenile Court, Housing Court, and Probate & Family Court, with a total project cost of $147 million; and
  • The Salem Trial Court, which consists of a new judicial facility that houses 11 court rooms with a large jury pool room, 12 detainee cells in the lower level, the District Attorney’s offices with a Grand Jury room and administrative offices for 225 staff, security officers and judges, for a total project cost of $106 million.

FY13 Highlights

• The Commonwealth will begin a study for a new Middlesex Judicial Complex which will replace the Edward J. Sullivan Judicial Complex and potentially consolidate several leases throughout Middlesex County.
• The Commonwealth will begin to study renovation of the historic Superior Court building in Taunton, which will upgrade facilities in Taunton and will connect it to the new facility.
• Construction will begin on the Greenfield Trial Court facility, which will house all five court department operations, a law library and the Registry of Deeds in one facility. It will replace the existing under-sized and outdated courthouse and currently leased Juvenile and Housing Court space.
• The Commonwealth will repair, renovate and upgrade systems in the Haverhill District Court to provide accessibility, energy efficiency, a water tight building envelope and other improvements.
• DCAM will continue planning and design of the renovation of the Salem Probate and Family Court facility and the new Lowell Trial Court.