Courtroom Secuirty in Indian Country

COURT SECURITY CONCERNS Malcolm Franklin

Lawrence Lujan

Steven K. Swensen

Senior Manager, Office of Security, Judicial Council of California - AOC

Honorable Chief Judge, Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tribal Court

Director, Center for Judicial and Executive Security (CJES)

All Rights Reserved - CJES, LLC

Lawrence Lujan Judge Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

All Rights Reserved - CJES, LLC

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To limit and reduce the exposure of risk to the personnel, facilities, property, and resources under the courts jurisdiction. To apply best practices to the court room and court facilities in which we work.

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The responsibility of the superior for the acts of their subordinate. When we fail to adequately train all of our staff we become responsible for their failures when they respond.

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Bailiff? Tribal Police? Court secretary or administrator? Tribal Judge? Local, state, federal government? Identifying and reporting of security violations, discrepancies, threats, breaches and or life safety incidents is every employee’s responsibility.

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Creating the Security Policy Judge, Head Bailiff, Chief of Police Coordinate, create MOU’s with support agencies (local law enforcement, state police, BIA police)

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Staffs lack training in courtroom securityJudges, Court Administrators and Court staff in general. Where training has been provided it is not continual. Training needs to be documented and should demonstrate gained knowledge and skills.

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Use of force to include lethal force PPCT or similar Taser or similar Tactical Cuffing Use of magnetometer and wands K-9 ?

Who is your bailiff? Do you have one? • Bailiff and Activist

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How to respond to violence Violence drills How not to be a victim Identifying suspicious packages Basic self-defense

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Internal/External Security Employee training-Court staff and Bailiff Transportation procedures Bomb threats Threats to staff Threats to data Should be codified in a manual

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Judge, and Court Staff mitigate dangers by being observant and vigilant. Involve Tribal Police Take all threats seriously!! Monitor, assess, investigate and prosecute all threats!

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Office Chamber Common Area

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Alarms Gun Lockers Id Cards Card Access PA system Sign in log

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Keys and Locking Devices Alarm User Codes Critical door identification Floor plans

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Cameras

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Bullet resistant glass.

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Barriers to prohibit forcible vehicle entry.

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Lighting

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Restricted Areas

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Sally-Port for officers.

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Alarms on doors

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Maintain grounds to prevent suspect hide-outs.

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Designated parking for staff

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One Plus Doctrine for Bailiffs Pre-screen threat level of defendants when possible. Pre-screen threat level of the victim and their family. ‘Cuffed or un-cuffed? In front of or behind a table/barricade?

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Separate “lock-down” room with video and audio. Video warnings and arraignments.

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Shootings Medical emergencies Bombs, explosions and bomb threats Hostage situations

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Escapes Assaults Natural Disasters Civil Disturbances Violence in or out of courtroom

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The judge should know to evacuate the chambers and it should be part of the immediate response plan. Let the bailiff handle it? Alone? Get involved? Code word announced. Support immediately requested Lock-down until resolved

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Policy – write it down. Floor Plans-know them, make available to any responding agency. Practice, Practice, Practice

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Phone Call Suspicious Package Involve Tribal PD Evacuate?

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Situations where safety requires all doors to be locked and all public and staff to remain in place. Code Blue? You choose Needs to be practiced and coordinated with Tribal Police

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Backup and recovery of court records in the event of fire, flood, or other disaster. Protection from internal/external subversive acts.

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Staff Awareness Plan Train Make policy Remain vigilant and observant

http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/CourtSecurity/docs/CourtPhySecPlan.pdf http://www.9-11summit.org/materials911/911/acrobat/26/C6NewThreats/MinnesotaCtSecurityManual.pdf http://www.sheriffs.org/userfiles/file/fs000165.pdf http://www.cmitonline.org/event/eventlookup.php?id=17 http://www.sheriffs.org/userfiles/file/fs000165.pdf http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/resources/standards/cs_stds.pdf