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 A new security blueprint for America's state courts emphasising critical review of operating procedures and facilities, planning, funding, and new courthouse design was released recently by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) at the National Press Club.
In addition to presenting a ten-point blueprint, NCSC also announced plans for a National Summit on Court Safety and Security. The National Summit will bring together all members of the court community to provide a mechanism for reviewing current safety and security practices and needs. This effort will result in a strategic action plan that will draw from a compilation of best practices and will provide the mechanism for identifying resource and funding needs.
As an outcome of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and in response to urgent mandates from states to review all safety and security considerations across state operations, The National Center for State Courts convened the Joint Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness, comprised of members from the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and Council of State Court Administrators (COSCA) to consider safety and security issues of America's courts. In October 2003 the Joint Committee conducted a state-by-state survey to determine such needs and to begin identifying effective practices. The Joint Committee then compiled the survey data and began to frame solutions through the identification of ten essential safety and security elements for courthouse safety and security planning.
The National Center for State Courts has now presented those survey-supported elements as a possible framework for the full development of court security strategies. The framework is entitled: ‘The Essential Ten Elements for Effective Courtroom Safety and Security Planning’. These are described as:
1. Operational security: standard operating procedures
This is one of the most critical deficiencies in the state court system today. Standard operating procedures are not being following and for full safety, there needs to be 100 percent compliance.
2. Facility security planning: the self-audit survey of court facilities
This point emphasises the need to know the strengths and weaknesses of the physical structure of the courtroom to best protect the people inside.
3. Emergency preparedness and response: continuity of operations
At any moment, courts can be affected by natural or unnatural disasters; however, they must continue to operate and serve the public in such an event. There needs to be a greater awareness and identification of command structure, protocols, and communication routes for such emergencies and responses.
4. Disaster recovery: essential elements of a plan
The point emphasises the need to ensure that adequate procedures are in place to recover lost or vulnerable information in the event of an emergency.
5. Threat assessment
The federal government currently has an effective threat assessment protocol in practice. However, for security and safety purposes, state courts need to begin identifying serious threats so they may prepare for the proper protective action.
6. Incident reporting
States must develop an appropriate incident report form that allows for capturing data on items such as intelligence and funding needs.
7. Funding
This is another critical deficiency facing the court system today and for years past. Equipment can be bought at moderate costs but without the trained personnel, the equipment is of little to no use. In addition, many state court administrators are troubled by the lack of federal funds. While much money is appropriate to homeland security, very little is dedicated to state courts.
8. Security equipment and costs
State courts must have updated and readily available information on what technology is available to them and how much it costs.
9. Resources and partnerships
Strong and effective partnerships among state courts, law enforcement, and county commissioners must be developed to ensure successful security operations.
10. New courthouse design
As new courthouses are being constructed, this point emphasises the opportunity to ensure that up-to-date physical safety measures are included in the design stage.
•Date: 17th March 2005 • Region: N.America •Type:
Article •Topic:
Terrorism
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