Hall of Justice
Encyclopedia
A Hall of Justice is an occasional term for a city's police
headquarters, and exists in cities across the United States
. In some cases, the facility may also house court
s as well as jail
s. In some US cities, the Hall of Justice is called the Justice Center.
In Los Angeles
the Hall of Justice was the centerpiece of the Los Angeles County justice system until it was damaged in the Northridge earthquake
. The historic building was featured on television shows including Dragnet and Get Smart
. More significantly, it was the home of Los Angeles County courts, the Los Angeles County Coroner, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, and was for many years the primary Los Angeles County jail.
Notable residents of the Hall of Justice included Charles Manson
and Sirhan Sirhan
. Autopsies performed at the Hall of Justice include those of actress Marilyn Monroe
and the assassinated presidential candidate and former United States Attorney General
Robert Kennedy.
There are restoration plans to again make it the Sheriff's Headquarters.
County Hall of Justice - Allied Architects - Los Angeles at www.you-are-here.compicture
34.05496°N 118.24344°W
In San Francisco, the old Hall of Justice was opposite Portsmouth Square on Kearny Street between Washington and Merchant. A hotel, the Hilton San Francisco Financial District
, now stands on this site. The old Hall of Justice was burned down during the 1906 Earthquake and rebuilt. The famous images of fan-shaped curved windows, from the floor, in numerous police dramas such as The Lineup
in the 1950s to Ironside
, the American television program starring Raymond Burr
, in the 1960s. The San Francisco Hall of Justice is also frequently mentioned in the works of Dashiell Hammett
and James Patterson
. The current Hall of Justice, located on 850 Bryant Avenue, serves as SFPD's operational headquarters, "Southern Station". It is internally referred to as "850 Bryant" and "the hall". The complex serves as the main San Francisco County Jail, as well as base of operations and headquarters for the San Francisco Sheriff's Department
, as of 2001 the California Highway Patrol
San Francisco headquarters (moved from a position adjacent to the 101 freeway in the south-east portion of the city), and garage for the major vehicles of the SFPD. The famed San Francisco Police Motorcycle Division is completely based out of it as well. In 1994, the Hall was renamed for Thomas J. Cahill
, the legendary Chief
of the SFPD from 1958 to 1970.
The San Francisco Hall of Justice is also the criminal justice center for the San Francisco County Superior Court.
37.77544°N 122.40394°W
The Hall of Justice is also the Office of the San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner and city morgue.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
headquarters, and exists in cities across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In some cases, the facility may also house court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
s as well as jail
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
s. In some US cities, the Hall of Justice is called the Justice Center.
Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
the Hall of Justice was the centerpiece of the Los Angeles County justice system until it was damaged in the Northridge earthquake
Northridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
. The historic building was featured on television shows including Dragnet and Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
. More significantly, it was the home of Los Angeles County courts, the Los Angeles County Coroner, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, and was for many years the primary Los Angeles County jail.
Notable residents of the Hall of Justice included Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
and Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is a Jordanian citizen who was convicted for the assassination of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is serving a life sentence at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.Sirhan was a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem who strongly opposed Israel...
. Autopsies performed at the Hall of Justice include those of actress Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
and the assassinated presidential candidate and former United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Robert Kennedy.
There are restoration plans to again make it the Sheriff's Headquarters.
County Hall of Justice - Allied Architects - Los Angeles at www.you-are-here.compicture
34.05496°N 118.24344°W
San Francisco
Hilton San Francisco Financial District
Hilton San Francisco Financial District is a 27 story hotel located Chinatown's Portsmouth Square in San Francisco, California at 750 Kearny Street. Formerly the Holiday Inn San Francisco, the hotel re-opened in January 2006 after a renovation....
, now stands on this site. The old Hall of Justice was burned down during the 1906 Earthquake and rebuilt. The famous images of fan-shaped curved windows, from the floor, in numerous police dramas such as The Lineup
The Lineup (TV series)
The Lineup is an American police drama which aired on CBS radio from 1950 to 1953 and on CBS television from 1954 to 1960, possibly in response to NBC's hit Dragnet....
in the 1950s to Ironside
Ironside
-Entertainment and literature:*Ironside , an American television series starring Raymond Burr*Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale, an urban fantasy novel by Holly Black-People:...
, the American television program starring Raymond Burr
Raymond Burr
Raymond William Stacey Burr was a Canadian actor, primarily known for his title roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. His early acting career included roles on Broadway, radio, television and in film, usually as the villain...
, in the 1960s. The San Francisco Hall of Justice is also frequently mentioned in the works of Dashiell Hammett
Dashiell Hammett
Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
and James Patterson
James Patterson
James B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
. The current Hall of Justice, located on 850 Bryant Avenue, serves as SFPD's operational headquarters, "Southern Station". It is internally referred to as "850 Bryant" and "the hall". The complex serves as the main San Francisco County Jail, as well as base of operations and headquarters for the San Francisco Sheriff's Department
San Francisco Sheriff's Department
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department is the sheriff's department for the City and County of San Francisco. The department has 850 deputized personnel, and support staff....
, as of 2001 the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
San Francisco headquarters (moved from a position adjacent to the 101 freeway in the south-east portion of the city), and garage for the major vehicles of the SFPD. The famed San Francisco Police Motorcycle Division is completely based out of it as well. In 1994, the Hall was renamed for Thomas J. Cahill
Thomas J. Cahill
Thomas J. Cahill was chief of police in San Francisco, California from 1958–70. People called him Tom. He was born June 8, 1910. His family repatriated to County Kilkenny, Ireland when he was a child and Cahill returned to San Francisco in 1930....
, the legendary Chief
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of the SFPD from 1958 to 1970.
37.77544°N 122.40394°W
The Hall of Justice is also the Office of the San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner and city morgue.