Court Security Handbook
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness PUBLISHED JUNE 2010 REVISED SEPTEMBER 2012 Prepared Under the Auspices of the CCJ/COSCA Joint Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Table of Contents Page Dedication ............................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii Essential Ten Elements for Effective Courtroom Safety and Security Planning ............... iv Introduction ..........................................................................................................................v Strategies for Success ............................................................................................ ix Best Practices Institute: Emergency Management for Courts ................................x Chapter One: Standard Operating Procedures ................................................................ 1-1 Chapter Two: The Self-Audit ......................................................................................... 2-1 Chapter Three: Emergency Preparedness and Response: Continuity of Operations (COOP) ....................................................................... 3-1 Chapter Four: Disaster Recovery—Essential Elements of a Plan .................................. 4-1 Chapter Five: Threat Assessment ................................................................................... 5-1 Chapter Six: Incident Reporting ..................................................................................... 6-1 Chapter Seven: Funding for Court Security.................................................................... 7-1 Chapter Eight: Security Equipment and Costs................................................................ 8-1 Chapter Nine: Resources/Partnerships ............................................................................ 9-1 Chapter Ten: New Courthouse Design ......................................................................... 10-1 Appendices Appendix A: Representative Sample of Guidelines from State Court Security Manuals ................................................................................................ A-1 Appendix B: Steps to Best Practices for Court Building Security .................................B-1 Appendix C: Home Security Audit and Recommendations ...........................................C-1 Appendix D: Model Disaster Recovery Plan Forms...................................................... D-1 Appendix E: Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania— Security Incident Fact Sheet ................................................................................ E-1 Appendix F: Sample Memorandum of Understanding .................................................. F-1 CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Dedication Thomas J. Moyer Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio April 18, 1939 – April 2, 2010 In 2003 the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators established a Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness. In recognition of the gravity and importance of court security, the Chief Justices designated Tom Moyer to be the committee's first co-chair. From 2003 to his untimely passing in 2010, Chief Justice Moyer served as the committee's co-chair and advanced the interests of judicial security with wisdom, patience and gentility. This practical guide is both a tribute to Chief Justice Moyer and a testament to his remarkable work in the complex field of court security. We are truly the beneficiaries of his pioneering efforts. We dedicate this court security handbook to Chief Justice Thomas Moyer. His many good works will always be remembered. A Publication of the CCJ/COSCA Joint Committee on i Court Security and Emergency Preparedness CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Acknowledgements Members of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the many individuals who contributed to the publication of this handbook: CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook - Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness. It is the result of efforts, cooperation, and hard work of many that information contained in these chapters was produced. Over the years, numerous chief justices and state court administrators who have served on the Committee have contributed their time and energy not only to developing the ten elements, but to putting them into a useable format that judges and court managers can use as guidelines to improve the safety and security of those individuals they serve in our national system of justice. Members of the Committee from fiscal year from 2009-10 through 2011-12 are: CCJ Members COSCA Members Thomas J. Moyer (dec.) OH, Co-Chair Zygmont A. Pines, PA, Co-Chair Paul L. Reiber, VT, Co-Chair Karl R. Hade, VA, Co-Vice Chair Michael L. Douglas, NV, Co-Vice Chair Arthur W. Pepin, NM, Co-Vice Chair Sharon Keller, TX, Co-Vice Chair Joseph Baxter, RI Sue Bell Cobb, AL Steven D. Canterbury, WV James E. Edmondson, OK Nancy Dixon, KS Thomas R. Fitzgerald, IL James T. Glessner, ME Thomas L. Kilbride, IL Elisabeth H. Goodner, FL Marilyn S. Kite, WY Donald D. Goodnow, NH Maureen O'Connor, OH Glenda L. Lake, VI Paul A. Suttell, RI Rodney A. Maile, HI Steven Taylor, OK Ron Overholt, CA Barton R. Voigt, WY Perry C. Taitano, GU A. John Voelker, WI Anne B. Wicks, DC We would also like to offer special thanks to our many colleagues, consultants, and court experts for their comments and contributions to the ten chapters contained in this handbook. Those who contributed greatly to the development and publication of this report are reviewers of the handbook — Steve Canterbury, Lisa Goodner, and Pat Griffin A Publication of the CCJ/COSCA Joint Committee on ii Court Security and Emergency Preparedness CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness as well as NCSC liaison to the Committee, Timm Fautsko, and former liaisons Carolyn Ortwein and José Dimas. Other contributors are Judy Amidon, Steve Berson, Ephanie Blair, Pam Casey, Tom Clarke, Paul Embley, Kay Farley, Dan Hall, Laura Klaversma, Frank Lalley, Arnold Lum, Jim O’Neil, Kevin Sheehan, Jewel Williams. Special appreciation is extended to Darren Breslin, Alicia Davis, Kären Hallstrom, and Mary Beth Kirven for their development of the section in Chapter Three entitled Emergency Preparedness and Response: Continuity of Operations (COOP). With respect to the chapters, we have again received contributions from many internal and external contributors for whose efforts we are sincerely grateful. Our gratitude also extends to the many members of the court community who shared information and made suggestions about the application of the ten elements. These contributions are reflected in the content of the chapters and demonstrate the value of networking and collaboration between states’ administrative offices of courts and the practitioners in the field. We would also like to recognize the many sponsors of the Web sites and companies that are listed in the Resources and References section at the end of each chapter. A Publication of the CCJ/COSCA Joint Committee on iii Court Security and Emergency Preparedness CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness A Publication of the CCJ/COSCA Joint Committee on iv Court Security and Emergency Preparedness CCJ/COSCA Court Security Handbook Ten Essential Elements for Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Introduction The terror attacks on September 11, 2001, produced increased concerns for safety and security for virtually all institutions in this country. State courts were no exception. In 2003, a Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee (Committee) was convened by the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) and included representatives from both. The mission statement of the Committee reads as follows: Most court managers believe that their facilities will not be targeted for a terrorist attack, or that disaster, natural or man-made, only happens to other people. Yet, as we are all too aware, catastrophic events can happen to anyone, at any time. Hurricanes, floods, fire, and earthquakes, as well as terrorism and civil disorder all threaten the ability of the courts to remain open. The events of September 11, 2001, further illustrated the vulnerability of public institutions and the urgent need for effective emergency response and security. Under Standard 1.2 of the Court Performance Standards – Access to Justice – a court is required to make its facilities safe, accessible, and convenient to use. The joint committee will identify and address key emergency planning, response, and security issues that affect state court systems and which have an impact on the courts’ ability to maintain continuity of operations and the rule of law. In October 2003, the Committee conducted a survey of the states to determine security needs of state courts and to identify effective practices in the area of court security. An analysis of the survey