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San Benito County Grand Jury |
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Special Projects Committee CHARTER The Special Project Committee is charged with investigating topics, which fall outside the specific jurisdictions of the other Grand Jury committees. Committee Members Kathleen MacWilliamson, Chairperson BACKGROUND The Grand Jury identified a need to investigate the issue of courthouse security. METHOD OF REVIEW Interviews OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS, AND CONCLUSIONS Without exception, those interviewed expressed concern for the current level of security of the entire building housing the courts, with specific concerns for the courtrooms and court officers. They all are concerned that the problem be addressed. To cite a few examples of outstanding security problems: The 2nd courtroom in Department 2 has large glass windows along an exterior hallway, which provide no protection from possible threat of harm. The court has one (1) borrowed walk through metal detector and one (1) wand. They are selectively used. There is no barrier between prisoners waiting in the jury box and the courtroom. Prisoners are held in the jury box due to lack of space and no other available holding area. Until recently, there was little control exercised over building keys and, despite warnings, employees are still lax in securing and locking the double doors opening to the parking lot when they enter and leave the building. There is no adequate alarm system in the building. Prior to consolidation of the courts, Municipal Court security was the responsibility of the Marshall and the Sheriff were responsible for Superior Court security. The system currently in place has the Sheriff and Marshall each responsible for one Superior Court Department. This system is working, but is administratively cumbersome. RECOMMENDATIONS The Grand Jury finds that there is a need for investigation and implementation of short-term security strategies within the context of a long-range security plan. As part of a long-range plan, the employment of a courtroom security consultant should be considered. The Grand Jury recommends this because of the unique structural challenge, which the building presents. Certainly as the county grows, the court will become more vulnerable to breeches in security, and will demand a greater fiscal investment in security. It is only sensible to develop a plan to forestall the possibility of a serious security breech. That plan should include provisions for greater security staff (i.e. the Marshall and Sheriff's staff), increased use of technical devices, as well as necessary structural changes to the building. The 1999-2000 Grand Jury recommends that the 2000-2001 Grand Jury continue to monitor Court security and continue this investigation. The Grand Jury recommends that:
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About the
Grand Jury |
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