State's courts expand security

HARRISBURG — As part of the Supreme Court’s ongoing efforts to improve court security, X-ray machines, magnetometers, duress alarms and card key entry systems have been installed, and an automated security incident reporting system implemented, in county courthouses throughout Pennsylvania, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy announced Tuesday. “Troubling, but true,” Cappy said, “that statistics show that every week there are several security incidents in Pennsylvania courts.” Fifty-seventy counties are participating in the court’s reimbursement program for the security equipment. More than $2.2 million will be reimbursed for 25 magnetometers, 35 X-ray machines, 23 card key entry systems and 43 duress alarms. In addition to these hardware security measures, the automated security incident reporting system, known as Pennsylvania’s Judicial Incident Reporting System, was implemented in all 67 counties through the at the end of August. Since its inception in July 2005, 442 court security incidents have been reported. Last year, 553 district courts and central booking and night court facilities in Pennsylvania were equipped with $4.4 million in electronic security equipment, a major step in better securing those court facilities. The total project, funded by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, included the installation of 750 digital cameras, 1,400 duress alarms, shatterproof safety glass and better restraints for in-custody defendants. These efforts to improve court security join other recent programs of the Supreme Court designed to modernize and improve the court system throughout Pennsylvania. Those initiatives include, among others, programs that are designed to provide trained court interpreters; assist in the establishment of specialty—or problem-solving—courts, such drug and DUI courts; assist children and families in the courts; and train judges in general and specialized areas of jurisprudence, using the most advanced educational techniques available.