FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 CONTACT:  Eric Turner or Guy Cook
March 24, 2008                             515-245-9509 or 515-245-4300

TOURS OF POLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE AVAILABLE

Public invited to tour 108 year-old building—and witness safety and space concerns in historic building during series of informational events

    DES MOINES, IA --The Building for Justice Campaign, a grassroots effort organized by Polk County citizens concerned about current safety, overcrowding and security risks in the Polk County Courthouse has announced a series of tours of the aging building.  Public tours will begin Tuesday, March 25 at 1:30 PM.  Courthouse staff, security and judicial personnel will lead the tours.
“The need to improve safety and security is clear”, said Judge Eliza Ovrom. “We want Polk County voters to see those challenging conditions.”
    The building will also be available for the guided tours on March 27 and March 29, April 7, April 14, and April 21.
    Tours of the historic, 108-year-old Polk County Courthouse, will include a brief presentation on inmate and defendant activity, jury operations and space restrictions facing the 200 public workers currently working in the building
    More information on the campaign and courthouse conditions are available at www.buildingforjustice.org.
    For further information about the courthouse tours, please call Guy Cook @ 515-245-4300 or Eric Turner @ 515-245-9509 at the Building for Justice Campaign.
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