Harris County Courthouse CampusJuvenile Justice Center Open for Business

The Harris County Commissioners Court officially opened the newly renovated $40.5 million Harris County Juvenile Justice Center in early April.
Formerly the Harris County Criminal Courts Building, the Juvenile Justice Center is part of an overall downtown courthouse master plan which calls for a new downtown courthouse campus. The campus will include the Family Law Center, the Criminal Justice Center, the Juvenile Justice Center, and the 1910 Civil Courthouse. A common tunnel system connecting to a new below-grade jury assembly center underneath the courthouse plaza is also part of the plan.
“The plan will make the county’s court system much more convenient for the thousands of people who utilize our justice system everyday,” said Harris County Judge Robert Eckels.
The Juvenile Justice Center, approximately 337,000 square feet, contains 215 juvenile beds. The building will be used by the juvenile probation department, juvenile detention, Precinct 1 justice of the peace, Precinct 1 constable, and the juvenile district courts.
The project included major renovation and modification to the overall building systems. A site analysis to provide environmental assessment for hazardous materials was performed, resulting in asbestos abatement, and ADA and code upgrade were completed as well.
At Harris County’s request, Morris Architects, project designer, relocated the main entrance to realign with the new central plaza north of the building in order to adhere to the county’s master plan.
The newly renovated facility includes booking and receiving, central security control, a cafeteria, day rooms, direct visual supervision, low-, medium- and high-risk cells, video arraignment, visitation and weapons storage. The Juvenile Justice Center will house male and female inmates and includes a rooftop indoor/outdoor recreation area.