The new Justice Center Annex will provide for modern, secure courts operations for Tazewell County while preserving its presence in downtown Pekin. Located across from the historic courthouse, the new facility will open with three criminal courtrooms and will include shelled space for eventual build-out of an additional three courtrooms, replacing the full complement of judicial spaces within the current building. Larger courtrooms and improved spaces for judges and jurors highlight the design. The annex will also be connected to the adjacent Judicial Center, the County’s jail facility, via an underground tunnel that will accommodate secure movement of in-custody persons to and from court. In addition to judicial functions, the new Justice Center Annex will also include space for the State’s Attorney, Probation, and Circuit Clerk’s offices, respectively.
The ability for true three-way separation of judiciary/staff, public, and in-custody circulation will be a significant improvement from the current operation. Also, the building’s exterior design is intended to blend a modern exterior aesthetic from a variety of adjacent influences, including the existing Courthouse and Justice Annex, to create a suitable image for Tazewell County government in the fabric of the historic Pekin downtown district.