The $45 million, two-story courthouse opens for business today in San Andreas.
It has four courtrooms and replaces its 50-year old predecessor.
The old courthouse had major security problems with small hallways to move prisoners and cramped courtrooms where they would be shoulder-to-shoulder with court staff.
Calaveras Court Executive Officer Hugh Swift says the new facility will provide for the county's needs over the next three decades.
"Probably inevitable that we will see an increase in crime and this will allow us to keep up with any increase in criminal violence as well as civil, small claims, family law because those are all population driven as well," said Swift.
The new courthouse was paid for with court fines and fees, notes Swift.
And he adds the addition of a new $60 million dollar jail next door will put the county's prisoner transportation costs even lower.
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