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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Ind. Courts - Reports from Gibson and Monroe Counties

The Princeton Daily Clarion reported Monday, in a story by Travis Neff, on security cameras installed in the courthouse:

PRINCETON-Security upgrades at the Gibson County Courthouse are a step in the right direction, said Sheriff Allen Harmon, but he warns the building is not nearly as secure as it should be.

“We're installing new cameras and a new fire alarm system in the courthouse, but public safety is at stake here if we don't do more,” said Harmon.

The cameras will be monitored by personnel at the Gibson County Jail. They will be mounted on the three levels of the courthouse that are open to the public.

“If we are called up to the court house during an emergency, we can have an idea of what we'll be facing when we get there before entering the building,” said Harmon.

A sheriff's deputy was posted full-time in the courthouse beginning late last year, but Harmon said the county council needs to authorize his department to have a deputy on duty for both the Circuit and the Superior Court.

“Quite honestly the security level at the courthouse is a joke,” said Harmon. “We are very lucky we have not had a hostage situation or someone come in with a gun. I'm afraid our luck may run out.”

Harmon said police have responded to several incidents at the courthouse.

“People can get pretty unruly. Going to court is an emotional experience,” said Harmon. He said some people have outbursts at the child support office during custody proceedings and following civil cases which did not have the outcome they wanted.

If an incident, like an assault, occurred at the courthouse, footage could be used as evidence to prosecute a suspect, Harmon said.

The number of incidents have been reduced since a deputy has been on duty at the courthouse, said Harmon.

“We could have a hostage situation up there, or someone could walk in with a gun, and then we would have a real tragedy on our hands,” he said.

The sheriff said there should only be one entrance to the building and he hopes to obtain grants from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, but he wants the council to approve additional deputies to provide protection and to screen people entering the building.

“Each judge deserves to have a deputy on hand in case something happens,” Harmon said.

“We have been fortunate there has not been a terrible incident up there,” said Harmon.

He said the sheriff's department is applying for grants to obtain extra metal detectors and other screening equipment.

“I firmly believe we're taking a heck of a risk not having a deputy for each court,” said Harmon.

Sunday, Bethany Nolan of Hoosier Times reported in a story headlined: "$2 million bond doesn’t include new courtrooms: While officials debate money, some say space problem isn’t going away." The story begins:
BLOOMINGTON — Last week’s approval of a nearly $2 million bond issue by the Monroe County Council didn’t include funds to build two new courtrooms and remodel office space.

Council members balked at spending the bulk of the proposed bond on what some termed a “short-term fix” for a space crunch in the Justice Building.

But the space-needs issue isn’t going to go away, and a solution must be reached, Monroe Circuit Judge E. Michael Hoff said.

“It’s a pretty straightforward problem,” he said. “We’re basically trying to provide an office for each court and a courtroom to do public business in.”

The county currently has eight judges and a court commissioner. A ninth court is scheduled to be added in January 2008.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 22, 2006 08:12 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts