ALEXANDRIA — The town’s court system just got an upgrade.

During an open house at the new location for Alexandria City Court, Judge Brandy Goodman said Wednesday that the new facility and new programs offered by the court are an improvement from the previous system.

In the past, Alexandria was forced to send its probation cases to Elwood because the town did not offer a probation program.

Now, Probation Officer Steve Graves heads the department, handling more than 120 cases. “My job is to help them change their behavior and make better decisions.”

Residents facing minor traffic and ordinance offenses will also be served by the new facility and programs. “It’s more access for them,” Goodman said.

Although the city court has been in its new location at 201 North Washington Street in Alexandria for a full year, Goodman delayed the open house until now because she hoped to debut the new police department upstairs.

The police are still in the process of moving into the upstairs space but anticipate relocating to the space in the coming weeks.

The move has also allowed for an upgraded recording system, Goodman said, and more space for court employees.

Alexandria Police Chief Brian Burnett is pleased with the changes to the city’s court system. “I think Brandy is doing a fantastic job over there. She’s giving people alternatives to just fines and jail. In these trying economic times, these things are a lot better than court fines and costs.”

Now that it’s offering its own court programs, the city is better able to keep track of minor offenses without sentencing offenders to jail or imposing huge fines. “They are viable alternatives that aren’t going to break people,” Burnett said.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters @heraldbulletin.com