OVERVIEW:

The Gila Valley Consolidated Municipal Court (Safford-Thatcher- Pima) is dedicated to ensuring that all qualified individuals with disabilities have equal and full access to the court system.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Arizona State law require all state and local governmental entities, including the courts, to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities

ACCESS INFORMATION FOR PERSON WITH DISABILITES

The court will make all reasonable efforts to meet the needs of the people with impairments or disabilities.  Qualified individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation to access court services, programs, and activities, including courtroom proceedings may complete the Request for Accommodations Form and submit it by either mailing the completed form to the ADA coordinator or by giving it to court staff. Alternative means of submitting an accommodation request, such as by personal interview, will be made available to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

The ADA Coordinator’s contact information is:

Stephanie Newton, ADA Coordinator

GVC Municipal Court

702 S. 8^th Ave, Safford, AZ 85546

Phone: (928) 432-4095

Email:  stnewton@courts.az.gov

To the extent possible, please submit the Request for Accommodations form to the court at least two weeks prior to court proceedings. For emergency court matters the ADA Coordinator should be contacted immediately.

Grievance Form

Please fill out this form if you believe you have been subject to discrimination by the Gila Valley Consolidated Municipal Court based on a disability in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

ANIMALS IN THE COURTHOUSE

It is the policy of the Court to prohibit all animals, except for those discussed below, from the interiors of its facilities.

 An exception to this policy are service animals as they are defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the person’s disability prevents the use of these devices. An additional exception is properly identified, and trained working animals accompanied by law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.

Comfort animals are prohibited.

Any animals allowed into any Court facility under the Court’s policy must be kept under control. Anyone who violates this policy shall be asked to exit court facilities or shall be removed by court security or by a police officer. Willful and wanton violations may subject the violator to criminal prosecution.

Definitions

Animal: An animal includes a dog, cat, bird, reptile, or any other living animal.

Comfort Animal: A comfort animal is any animal whose function is to provide comfort or emotional support.

Service Animal: As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals, for example, are dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for qualified individuals with disabilities. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.

 Working Animal: Working animals are trained police dogs accompanied by law enforcement officers.