COURT SECURITY CONCERNS
Malcolm Franklin
Lawrence Lujan
Steven K. Swensen
Senior Manager, Office of
Security, Judicial Council
of California - AOC
Honorable Chief Judge,
Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo
Tribal Court
Director, Center for
Judicial and Executive
Security (CJES)
All Rights Reserved - CJES, LLC
Lawrence Lujan
Judge Ysleta del Sur Pueblo
All Rights Reserved - CJES, LLC
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To limit and reduce the exposure of risk to the
personnel, facilities, property, and resources
under the courts jurisdiction.
To apply best practices to the court room and
court facilities in which we work.
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The responsibility of the superior for the
acts of their subordinate.
When we fail to adequately train all of our
staff we become responsible for their
failures when they respond.
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Bailiff?
Tribal Police?
Court secretary or administrator?
Tribal Judge?
Local, state, federal government?
Identifying and reporting of security
violations, discrepancies, threats,
breaches and or life safety incidents is
every employee’s responsibility.
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Creating the Security Policy
Judge, Head Bailiff, Chief of Police
Coordinate, create MOU’s with support
agencies (local law enforcement, state
police, BIA police)
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Staffs lack training in courtroom securityJudges, Court Administrators and Court staff in
general.
Where training has been provided it is not
continual.
Training needs to be documented and should
demonstrate gained knowledge and skills.
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Use of force to include lethal force
PPCT or similar
Taser or similar
Tactical Cuffing
Use of magnetometer and wands
K-9 ?
Who is your bailiff? Do you have one?
• Bailiff and Activist
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How to respond to violence
Violence drills
How not to be a victim
Identifying suspicious packages
Basic self-defense
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Internal/External Security
Employee training-Court staff and Bailiff
Transportation procedures
Bomb threats
Threats to staff
Threats to data
Should be codified in a manual
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Judge, and Court Staff mitigate dangers by
being observant and vigilant.
Involve Tribal Police
Take all threats seriously!!
Monitor, assess, investigate and prosecute all
threats!
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Office
Chamber
Common Area
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Alarms
Gun Lockers
Id Cards
Card Access
PA system
Sign in log
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Keys and Locking
Devices
Alarm User Codes
Critical door
identification
Floor plans
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Cameras
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Bullet resistant glass.
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Barriers to prohibit forcible
vehicle entry.
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Lighting
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Restricted Areas
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Sally-Port for officers.
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Alarms on doors
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Maintain grounds to
prevent suspect hide-outs.
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Designated parking for staff
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One Plus Doctrine for Bailiffs
Pre-screen threat level of defendants when
possible.
Pre-screen threat level of the victim and their
family.
‘Cuffed or un-cuffed?
In front of or behind a table/barricade?
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Separate “lock-down” room with video and
audio.
Video warnings and arraignments.
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Shootings
Medical emergencies
Bombs, explosions and
bomb threats
Hostage situations
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Escapes
Assaults
Natural Disasters
Civil Disturbances
Violence in or out of
courtroom
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The judge should know to evacuate the
chambers and it should be part of the
immediate response plan.
Let the bailiff handle it? Alone?
Get involved?
Code word announced.
Support immediately requested
Lock-down until resolved
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Policy – write it down.
Floor Plans-know them, make available to any
responding agency.
Practice, Practice, Practice
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Phone Call
Suspicious Package
Involve Tribal PD
Evacuate?
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Situations where safety requires all doors
to be locked and all public and staff to
remain in place.
Code Blue? You choose
Needs to be practiced and coordinated
with Tribal Police
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Backup and recovery of court records in the
event of fire, flood, or other disaster.
Protection from internal/external subversive
acts.
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Staff Awareness
Plan
Train
Make policy
Remain vigilant and observant
http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/CourtSecurity/docs/CourtPhySecPlan.pdf
http://www.9-11summit.org/materials911/911/acrobat/26/C6NewThreats/MinnesotaCtSecurityManual.pdf
http://www.sheriffs.org/userfiles/file/fs000165.pdf
http://www.cmitonline.org/event/eventlookup.php?id=17
http://www.sheriffs.org/userfiles/file/fs000165.pdf
http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/standards/cs_stds.pdf