LANSING (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court is considering a rule that would create local courthouse security committees.
The court will take public comment until Jan. 1.
Local security committees would be led by a judge and include police, the clerk of the court and others who use the building. The committee’s job would be to create policies that improve safety and security.
Courthouse security varies from community to community. Some courthouses have been upgraded and expanded while others have been around since the 1800s. Some don’t have metal detectors at the entrance.
The Supreme Court will accept comments electronically at ADMcomment@courts.mi.gov. Comments may be sent as well to the Supreme Court clerk in writing at PO Box 30052, Lansing MI 48909.
In its proposed administrative order dated Oct. 3, the court noted that the issue of courthouse security is of vital importance to ensure the safety of the public, litigants and judicial employees across the state.
“It is ordered that each chief judge or, in any facility with multiple chief judges, one chief judge as designated by consensus of the chief judges, establish a standing courthouse security committee to be chaired by the chief judge or his/her designee.”
The court said members of the committee “shall include representatives of the court’s funding unit, local law enforcement, the Clerk of Court and other facility stakeholders.
“The courthouse security committee is responsible for creating and promoting policies and procedures to improve the safety and security of the courthouse.”
Each court shall submit to the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) a local administrative order that establishes the courthouse security committee in accordance with the model local administrative order developed by the SCAO, the court said.
The security committees shall, according to the top court:
• Develop and promote security policies and procedures regarding court security and emergency management
• Establish goals and objectives specific to improving physical security, emergency preparedness and employee training;
• Review all courthouse security incidents and take appropriate corrective measures to mitigate and/or eliminate any security vulnerabilities to prevent future reoccurrences.
Among other things, the chairperson of the committee must submit a report to the SCAO within one year of the first committee meeting and an updated report every two
years thereafter, the court said in its Oct. 3 order.
Those reports, the order said, should include descriptions of current security policies and procedures, the goals and objectives established by the committee to improve courthouse security along with a summary of any courthouse security incidents occurring during the reporting period and related corrective measures taken by the court.
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