Spotlight on a Rural Courthouse: What’s New at the Jackson County Courthouse?

The Jackson County Circuit Court is becoming more accessible and user-friendly with improvements and programs. To name a few:

Courtroom & jury assembly room improvements

The courthouse has completed significant improvements to its courtrooms and jury assembly area, enhancing accessibility, comfort, technology, and the overall experience for the public, attorneys, jurors, and court staff.

All courtrooms are now equipped with hybrid technology, allowing hearings to be conducted in person, remotely, or through a combination of both. Most misdemeanor traffic and civil dockets are now held virtually through Zoom unless a party requests an in-person hearing. This increased flexibility makes court more convenient and accessible while helping reduce transportation challenges, parking shortages, security lines, and overcrowding in the courtrooms. Updated audio-visual equipment also provides improved sound quality and better support for presentations.

In addition to the technology upgrades, all courtrooms have been remodeled to create a more comfortable and welcoming environment. Jurors, witnesses, attorneys, and other courtroom participants now benefit from improved seating designed to provide greater comfort during lengthy proceedings. The first-floor courtroom has also been expanded, creating additional space for seating and improving overall comfort.

The courthouse jury assembly area, located in the basement, has undergone a complete renovation. The improvements include freshly painted walls and ceilings, new flooring, and sturdier, more comfortable chairs replacing the previous plastic seating. The restrooms have also been remodeled, with widened doors to improve accessibility and the addition of a gender-neutral restroom option.

Together, these improvements reflect the courthouse's continued commitment to providing modern, accessible, and user-friendly facilities while supporting the efficient administration of justice for the community.

Court Resource Center

Access to justice has always been a priority of the courts, and the Court Resource Center (CRC), located on the first floor of the courthouse, has become an important resource in advancing that goal.

The CRC provides a welcoming and accessible space for courthouse users, including self-represented litigants, attorneys, families, and members of the community. This space provides:

• Resources for Self-Represented Litigants: The CRC is equipped with public-use computers that allow self-represented litigants to access statewide approved court forms through the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and participate in court proceedings through Zoom. Additional office equipment and supplies are available at no cost to public users.
• Law Library Resources: The CRC also serves as a digital law library. Court forms, legal research materials, and other information are available through the public computer area, providing courthouse users with convenient access to important resources.
• Private Workspace for Attorneys: A private office is available for attorneys who need a place to meet with clients, conduct depositions, or work when their own office space is unavailable. The office includes a computer, copier, workspace, and refrigerator for attorneys and clients who may need to use the room for an extended period.
• A Welcoming Space for Families: The CRC includes a waiting area with comfortable seating, magazines, and a water cooler. Special attention has been given to families with young children through the creation of a dedicated children’s play area. The children’s area includes tables and chairs, reading chairs, books, puzzles, crayons, crafts, and snacks. Through generous community donations, children are also encouraged to select a book and stuffed animal to take home with them.
• Community and Educational Gathering Space: The CRC provides gathering space for tours, meetings, receptions, and other events. This resource creates opportunities for schools and community organizations, including groups such as Learning in Retirement, to learn more about the courts and how the judicial system works.

The courts welcome opportunities to meet with members of the public and community organizations to provide information about the court system and the services available to courthouse users.

The Court Resource Center represents an ongoing commitment to improving access to justice and making the courthouse a more accessible, informative, and welcoming resource for everyone in Jackson County.

Court therapy dog

Court therapy dogs can play a unique and valuable role in the judicial process by reducing stress and anxiety in court proceedings during family court, juvenile abuse and neglect hearings, drug court, and other emotionally charged hearings.

Charlie, our 8-year-old Goldendoodle and certified therapy dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, has been a beloved member of our courthouse team for almost two years. Charlie has become an integral part of the courthouse, particularly within the drug court program and juvenile abuse and neglect cases. His presence provides therapeutic support to participants navigating the justice system, many of whom experience significant emotional stress. He also brings additional joy to special occasions such as long-awaited adoptions.

Charlie is familiar with the routines and individuals involved, and he intuitively engages with those who may benefit most from his calming influence. While he certainly has a few favorites—possibly because of the treats—his role extends far beyond companionship. Charlie helps create a more supportive, trauma-informed courtroom environment while advancing our goals of increasing engagement, reducing stress, and promoting successful outcomes in treatment court.

Benefits of Court Therapy Dogs

• Emotional Comfort—Children and vulnerable individuals may feel more secure when interacting with a calm, friendly dog.
• Improved Communication—A therapy dog can help witnesses and crime victims, especially youth, feel more comfortable opening up during interviews and court proceedings.
• Stress Reduction—For individuals experiencing substance use challenges or trauma, a therapy dog can help reduce stress and provide comfort and support.
• A calming presence for all—Even court staff and legal professionals can benefit from spending a few minutes with a therapy dog.

Kids in the Courts

The Jackson County Circuit Court has developed an innovative program designed to introduce elementary school students to the American legal system. Aptly named Kids in the Courts, the program consists of two unique opportunities for students to learn about the judicial process.

Courthouse Tour: Designed for groups of up to 25 students, the Courthouse Tour provides an inside look at the functions of various courthouse offices, with special emphasis on the important role of the court system.

Shadow Program: In small groups, students observe and learn about the American judicial system from the unique perspective of sitting alongside judges and other courtroom personnel while court is actually in session.

A favorite part of the program is meeting Charlie, our court therapy dog!

We hosted several middle-school classes during the last school year and are excited to welcome students back to the courthouse soon. At the conclusion of the program, students are invited to submit essays describing what they learned during their time in court.

Judges and court staff who participated in the program read and score each essay anonymously, without the students’ names attached. The winning essay earns the “Charlie’s Choice” Award, and a judge, court representatives, and Charlie visit the student’s school to present the award during a special student assembly.

Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

One of our greatest achievements has been our partnership with CASA of Southern Illinois. CASA has proven to be an invaluable and dedicated partner in our child protection system, helping ensure that the best interests of vulnerable children remain at the forefront of every case.

CASA advocates help safeguard the health, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Their services extend from birth through age twenty-one for children who become involved in the juvenile court system through no fault of their own. These children are among the most vulnerable members of our community and require careful attention, consistent advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to their well-being.

The Court relies heavily upon the thorough investigations, detailed reports, and thoughtful recommendations provided by CASA advocates. Their work provides the Court with valuable insight into the circumstances and needs of each child, thereby assisting judges in making informed decisions concerning placement, services, permanency, and the child’s best interests.

CASA volunteers work in partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services caseworkers, who frequently manage substantial caseloads while operating with limited resources. Unlike many professionals involved in the child protection system, a CASA advocate generally focuses on only one or two children at a time. This allows the advocate to maintain frequent and consistent contact with the child, family members, caregivers, service providers, and other individuals involved in the case.

Over the course of the proceedings, CASA advocates often become a trusted and stable presence in a child’s life. Their commitment extends beyond the courtroom, ensuring that the child’s voice is heard and that the child’s needs remain visible throughout the judicial process.

The Jackson County Courts are grateful for the dedicated service of CASA of Southern Illinois and its volunteers. Their advocacy strengthens the child protection system and, most importantly, helps the Court fulfill its responsibility to protect the rights, safety, and best interests of every child who comes before it.

Drug Court

Established in January 2022, the Jackson County Drug Court is a collaborative effort between the criminal justice system and community treatment providers designed to reduce recidivism and break the cycle of substance abuse.

The program uses an evidence-based approach and works closely with community providers to connect participants with substance-abuse treatment, mental-health services, and other essential support. Research has shown that drug courts can significantly reduce crime compared with traditional case dispositions, with reductions averaging between 8 and 26 percentage points and, in some cases, reaching as high as 35 percent.

Successfully completing Drug Court is no small accomplishment. Participants must demonstrate approximately two years of compliance while progressing through the program's rigorous, tiered structure. Throughout the process, participants engage in intensive treatment and therapy while working to address the behaviors, relationships, and social environments that have contributed to patterns of addiction and criminal behavior.

The Jackson County Drug Court recognizes that lasting change requires more than accountability in the courtroom. By combining judicial oversight with treatment, support, and personal responsibility, the program provides participants with the tools and opportunity to build healthier, more stable lives while contributing to a safer community.

Signage and information

We are currently in the process of installing new digital signage throughout the courthouse. These signs will provide easy-to-read docket information, maps and directories of offices within the courthouse, as well as announcements and other information of public interest regarding the courts and other county offices.

The informational signs will replace the multiple notices currently scattered throughout the building, consolidating that information into one easy-to-read format on a single screen.

---

Patti Clark is the Director of Court Operations for the Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro, Illinois.