Thanks for the support for the judicial system! It is scary to read about attacks on judges, lawyers, deputies and even parties in a case. Everyone in the courtroom and courthouse should be able to count on being physically safe while going through often highly stressful proceedings. I trust our county deputies with my life. I was joking with one once and asked him if he'd take a bullet for me. He became very serious and without hesitation said that he would.
The deputies let us know if someone might present a problem. If we think a person who is not in custody is likely to "go off" during a court proceeding, the deputies will come sit in the courtroom to make sure that doesn't happen. We also have a panic button in each courtroom and in our offices if a disturbance erupts. The deputies come running. It's amazing how well-behaved people can be when there is a cop in the room! :)
Dangerous inmates are cuffed and shackled with the handcuffs also attached to a belly chain. The best they can do is shuffle along and they can't raise their arms to strike anyone. If the proceeding is a jury trial, great care is taken to get the inmate into and out of the courtroom without the jury present so they can't see the restraints being used. We attach a cloth skirting to the front of the counsel table which hides their legs if the ankle shackles need to remain on while the jury is present. They are dressed in civilian clothing during jury trials.
If a person is behaving violently, or too mentally ill (e.g. refusing to put on clothing, etc.) to be brought to the courtroom, the judge, attorneys and court reporter go to their cell in a segregation unit to arraign them.
Design mprovements can be made to increase security in the courtroom. Our courthouse is built in the early 1960s and didn't have any kind of security. Members of the public could walk in and go directly to a judge's office if he/she wanted to without being checked for weapons. Our building has now been retrofitted with airport-like screening machines. Weapons are not allowed into the building. Unfortunately, judges end up using the secure elevator inmates are brought to court in and sometimes share the elevator with them and the deputies who are transporting them.
That all said, there are still concerns about the safety of judges, prosecutors and their families outside of the workplace. Please keep us in your prayers. :)
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
