County Court Assistants Training Conference Practical Appl - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Practical Appl pplication o n of Sen enate B Bill ill 42; 2; The I Impact and C nd Cha hallen enges s of Providing g Cou

• urt

rt S Secu curi rity y

County Court Assistants Training Conference

By: Thomas Kerss, Senior LE Consultant

• Meeting local requirements
• Impact on funding and implementation
• Conflicting challenges to providing security

Presented by: Retired Sheriff Thomas Kerss, Senior Law Enforcement Consultant Texas Association of Counties

Learning Objectives:

Target Ar Areas For r Today’s T Training:

Security Plan Funding Security Security Measures Personnel and Training Personal Safety

Security Provisions i in SB 42 Ap Applies to all types and levels o

• f local court

rts:

Civil Criminal Family Specialty Courts Appellate District County Justice Municipal

SB 42 a amended T TX Gov. C . Cod

• de S
• Sec. 7
• ec. 74.0

.092 t to

• require

a secu curity c committee be form rmed, c , consisting o

• f:

Administrative District Judge Sheriff Commissioner Court Representative Representative from all other County Courts District or County Attorney Any other person deemed necessary

Rol

• le of
• f Th

The Se Security C Com

• mmit

ittee:

• Adopt security policies and procedures for the courts
• Recommend resources and uses of money to the

county commissioners’ court for courthouse security

May not direct the assignment of those resources or the expenditure of those funds

SCREENING PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT

• If so, where,

when and how

Screening Stations

• Alarms, cameras,

warning systems

Technology

• General fund,

security fee fund

Budget Funding

ANALYZI ZING NG S SECURI RITY M Y MEASURE RES

Security considerations and limitations comes down to answering a few basic questions:

• Funding Availability vs. Costs of Security Measures
• Potential Threats vs. Likelihood and Severity
• Restrictions of Law
• Inconvenience vs. Necessity

Example: TSA Type Security Measures

• vs. High Profile Trial Increases

Court S t Sec ecurity ty Plan ans a and M Meas easures es

• County size influences availability of resources.
• Economic status effects budgeting ability for security.
• Facility design impacts security decisions and restricts

areas where weapons may be banned.

“A state agency or a political subdivision of the state may not provide notice by a communication described by Section 30.06, Penal Code.”

For years c s coun unties r es rel elied ed on S n Section 46-Penal C Code f for legal authority to secure o

• ur c

r court rthouses. .

46.03 Prohibits firearms and other weapons:

• at polling places during voting
• on the premises of any government court, or
• In offices utilized by the court

46.035 Prohibited firearms and other weapons:

• at a correctional facility
• where an open meeting of a governmental entity is held

Rec ecent l leg egislatio ion, cou

• urt rulin

lings an and A AG op

• pin

inio ions al altered that. . KP-0047 d 0047 define ned d Section 4 411. 1.209 209-Gov. C Code a e as: s:

“Premises of a government court”

• a structure utilized by a court, or
• a courtroom or portion of such a structure.

“Office utilized by the court”

• those offices essential to the operation of a court.

Accordin ing t to Texas a attor

• rney g

gener eral K Ken en P Paxton

• n,

Firearms may be excluded from portions of buildings containing courts or offices utilized by the courts Firearms can only be banned from rooms used for Commissioners’ Court meetings when a public meeting is being held —and not in the entire building.

Opinion No. KP-0047

Li Lice censed t to C

• Carry a

and Open C Carry y Impa mpact

If I can’t ’t s stop o

• ne,

, I can’t ’t s stop t the o

• ther.

=

Cou

• urt S

rt Sec ecuri rity ty P Per ersonnel el T Training

SB B 42 42 Officer T Trai aining Challen enges es C Course e 10999 10999

Requires any Court Security Officer to complete:

• within one year of assignment to that position
• 8-16 hours in length

Court Security Officers include:

• constables, sheriffs, sheriff's deputies, municipal peace officers
• any other person assigned to provide security for an appellate,

district, statutory county, county, municipal, or justice court.

What Can Can You Do t to S Stay Safe?

The Individual Perspective

Threats Co Come In Multiple F For

• rms

Physical Attacks:

• Assault/Active Shooter
• Domestic Relations Matters
• Inmate Attacks or Escape

Attempts

• Chemical/Biological

Hazards

Facilities Attacks:

• Fire/Explosive/Combustibles
• Vehicle Crashes
• Burglary/Theft/Criminal

Mischief

• Records/Data Intrusions

Ease a e and P Purpos

• se

e vs Probability

• The easier an attack is to carry out the more likely the risk
• f occurrence.
• Motivation for an attack may also drive the attack

method.

• Lone gunman type assaults have become more common.

Weapons/ammo are easily obtained and attacks take less preparation to carry out.

Training and Preparing

• Be proactive, devise a mental plan.
• Gather and store basic safety items and emergency
• supplies. Seek First-Aid training.
• Identify emergency exits and locations of safety equipment.
• Train and conduct drills to minimize confusion and

reduce casualties.

If a a Th Threatening I Inci cident O t Occu ccurs:

• Act quickly, initiate your emergency response plan.
• Evacuate if possible.
• If evacuation is not possible, shelter in safe rooms.
• Secure doors and windows, barricade in a safe location.
• Arm yourself with any means available and be mentally

prepared to defend yourself to survive.

QUESTIONS

Law E Enfor

• rcement

t Con

• nsult

ltants

Northeast Thomas Kerss (512) 589-3922 thomask@county.org Northwest Gary Henderson (512) 968-8407 garyh@county.org Southwest David Whitis (512) 517-2547 davidw@county.org Southeast Terry Pickering (512) 517-7197 terryp@county.org

Southeast Southwest Northwest Northeast