NCJ Number
43492
Date Published
1977
Length
48 pages
Annotation
BOTH BOOKS AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS ARE REVIEWED TO IDENTIFY MAJOR COURT SECURITY PROBLEMS AND TO DEVELOP OPERATIONAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, AND ARCHITECTURAL MEASURES TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF COURT SECURITY.
Abstract
BECAUSE THERE ARE NO STATISTICS AVAILABLE ON THE NUMBER OF SECURITY INCIDENTS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL COURTS, AN ATTEMPT TO COMPILE AND ANALYZE A SAMPLE OF INCIDENTS WAS MADE. EXAMPLES FOUND INCLUDED PASSIVE DISRESPECT, VERBAL ABUSE OR INSULT, REPEATED INTERRUPTIONS OF THE TRIAL, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN THE COURTROOM, DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM, THEFT, FIRE, BOMB THREATS AND ACTUAL EXPLOSIONS, SABOTAGE, HOSTAGE SITUATIONS, PRISONER ESCAPES, KIDNAPPINGS, AND ASSASSINATION. LITERATURE COVERED GENERALLY FALLS INTO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES: (1)ITEMS DEALING WITH SECURITY PLANNING IN GENERAL, UTILIZING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO COURT SECURITY; AND (2) WORKS DEALING WITH SPECIFIC SECURITY PROBLEMS. A REVIEW OF NEWSPAPER AND TELEVISION SOURCES FOR 1967-1977 IDENTIFIED 52 COURT DISRUPTIONS, GENERALLY MORE DRAMATIC VIOLENT INCIDENTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THESE REPRESENT A SMALL FRACTION OF SECURITY PROBLEMS ACTUALLY ENCOUNTERED. THE MOST REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE BOMB EXPLOSIONS. HOWEVER, THOSE CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH COURTS FEEL ASSAULT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, AND ESCAPE ATTEMPTS ARE GREATER PROBLEMS. LITERATURE AVAILABLE IS ASSESSED, AND STUDIES NEEDED ARE RECOMMENDED. FINDINGS OF VARIOUS STUDIES IN THE AREAS OF OPERATIONS SECURITY, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, AND TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES ARE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED. APPENDIXES GIVE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS, EXAMPLES OF SPATIAL SOLUTIONS TO CIRCULATION PROBLEMS, EXAMPLES OF OPERATIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL MEASURES SUGGESTED, AN ANNOTATED LIST OF MAJOR PUBLICATIONS DEALING WITH COURT SECURITY, AND A SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RELATED MATERIALS.