Emergency planning & Security
The NCSC's analysis of security assessments it has conducted on more than 225 court buildings in recent years has been published in Status of Court Security in State Courts – A National Perspective.
The report, funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, also includes a comprehensive analysis of the information and data gathered by the Center for Judicial and Executive Security (CJES) examining court building shootings, bombings, arson attacks, and other court-targeted acts of violence from 1970 to 2012. Finally, the NCSC’s new publication includes data from extensive web and phone surveys of court and law-enforcement officials nationwide.
Court building security: Lessons learned, and best practices
Representatives from six courthouses where shootings and stabbings have occurred met at NCSC's Denver offices in August, 2013, to compare their experiences -- and to try to determine some lessons learned that might help their counterparts in courthouses throughout the country.
In their own words: "If your courthouse has been free of violence for the past 50 years, that is no assurance that it will not become the scene of violence tomorrow."
Their hard-earned advice and guidance is offered in this publication: Courthouse Violence in 2010-2012 - Lessons Learned.
Other useful guides for improved court security:
- Steps to Best Practices for Court Building Security. Revised in 2013, this report defines best practices in various areas of court building security.
- Guidelines for Implementing Best Practices in Court Building Security. In addition to Steps, this NCSC publication covers the priority and phases of security implementation.
Find out more about the steps and guidelines >
Home Security Audit and Recommendations. This audit checklist identifies security risks for judges and other judicial branch personnel. Its recommendations can help protect them and their families at home and while traveling.
Emergency Preparedness
See how the Louisiana courts prepared for Hurricane Isaac in September 2012 and averted serious problems as a result of their Emergency Preparedness planning following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Louisiana document contains a best practices template and an in-depth look at the steps they took to develop a success plan:
NCSC Disaster Preparedness - Louisiana Summary
Louisiana’s template on emergency preparedness best practices
COOP
COOP stands for continuity of operations; courts develop a COOP plan to ensure they know what to do if faced with an emergency that threatens continuation of normal operations. Traditionally, a COOP plan is developed and implemented for situations in which the courthouse or court-related facilities are threatened or inaccessible (e.g., as a result of a natural or man-made disaster). A traditional COOP plan establishes effective processes and procedures to quickly deploy pre-designated personnel, equipment, vital records and supporting hardware and software to an alternative site to sustain organizational operations for up to 30 days. It also covers the resumption of normal operations after the emergency has ended.
State Courthouse Operations and Security Statistics Survey: Development and Design
This BJS-funded pilot project will develop data collection instruments and methodology to evaluate court security.
Judges, employees, and others who work in or must use our nation’s courthouses are collectively at potential risk of becoming victims of hostile acts, including harassment, threats, physical attacks, and even death.
Who is at risk? How serious is the danger? How frequently do attacks occur? These and similar questions must be answered so that appropriate steps can be taken to insure that courts remain safe forums for the impartial resolution of disputes. Information about the most fundamental characteristics of courthouse violence and the counter-measures that courts have taken in response to real or perceived violence remains elusive, to the detriment of those who seek to develop effective policies and procedures to guarantee courthouse security.
Past projects > 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004
2019
Court Security Assessment for the New Mexico Courts, 2018-2019
Court Security Training Project for the Florida Courts, 2018-2019
Courthouse Security and Facility Assessment for the Teton County Courthouse in Jackson, Wyoming, 2019
Courthouse Security Assessment for the Caroline County Courthouse in Denton, Maryland, 2019
Courtroom Security Analysis Project for the Superior Court of Pima County, Arizona, 2019
Superior Court Security Operations Assessment for the New Hampshire Administrative Office of the Courts, 2018-2019
2018
Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Assessment for the Minnesota State Court Administrator’s Office, 2018
Court Security Assessment for the New Mexico Courts, 2018
Judge Security Training for the Indiana Supreme Court, 2018
Judicial Complex Security and Training Project for the Broward County, Florida Courts, 2018
2017
Court Security Assessment for the Stafford County, Virginia Courts, 2017
Court Security Guidelines Development for the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts, 2017
Court Security Training Sessions for the Massachusetts Trial Court, 2017
Overview of Courthouse Security Assessments for the Wyoming Supreme Court, 2017
2016
Court Security Assessment for the West Monroe, Louisiana City Court, 2016
Court Security and Facilities Assessment for the Judiciary of Guam, 2016
Courthouse Security Review for Hancock County, Ohio, 2016
Pandemic Scenario Assessment for the Courts (SJI Grant), 2016
2015
Court Security Assessment for Cecil County, Maryland, 2015
Courthouse Security Assessment for Hancock County, Ohio, 2015
Court Security Assessment for the Judiciary of Guam, 2015
Court Security Assessment and Training for the Wyoming Supreme Court, 2015
Court Security Assessment for the Vermont Court System, 2015
Court Security Best Practices for the Broward County, Florida Court, 2015
Court Security Consulting for Beauregard, Louisiana, 2015
Court Security Training for the Massachusetts Trial Court, 2015
Online Security Training for the Arkansas Court System, 2015
Security Assessments and Training Program for the Minnesota Court System, 2015
2014
Court Security Assessment for the Westminster, Colorado Courts, 2014
Court Security Training for the Massachusetts Court System, 2014
Security Event Guidelines Development (SJI Grant), 2014
2013
Court Security and Emergency Preparedness Team Building Training for the Hawaii Judiciary (SJI Grant), 2013
Courthouse Security Assessment for Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish, La., (SJI Grant), 2013
Courthouse Security Assessment for the Second Circuit Court (Maui), Hawaii, 2013
Courthouse Security Assessments in Bergen, Camden, Ocean, and Monmouth Vicinages of New Jersey, 2013
Revision of Courts Marshal’s Division Policies and Procedures Manual for Clark County, Nevada, District Court, 2013
2012
Court Security and Technology Planning for the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (subcontractor to Gould Evans), 2012
Courthouse Security Assessment for Clark County, Nevada (SJI Grant), 2012
Courthouse Security Assessment of Cibolo, Texas, Municipal Court, 2012
Courthouse Security Review for the Thirty-sixth Judicial District of Louisiana (DeRidder), 2012
Courthouse Security Review for the Twenty-third Judicial District of Louisiana (Gonzales), 2012
Develop Curriculum and Training of Court Bailiffs for the Hawaii Judiciary, 2012
Improve Security at Court Facilities for the Fourth Judicial District, Minnesota, 2012
Security Assessment of Charles County, Maryland, Circuit Courthouse, 2012
Security Improvements and Courthouse Assessment for the Alaska Court System (SJI Grant), 2012
2011
Assistance with Determining Best Practices for Court Security and Threat Reporting for the California Administrative Office of the Courts, 2011
Dual State Coordinated Court Security Training for Judges, Court Staff and the Court Security Officers in the Indiana and Maryland Court Systems (SJI Grant), 2011
Security Review to Satisfy Requirements of the New Jersey Model Security Plan for the Vicinage of Essex, New Jersey, 2011
2010
Courthouse Building Security Assessment for the Fourth Judicial District, Omaha, Nebraska (SJI Grant), 2010
Courthouse Security Assessment for Judiciary for State of Hawaii (SJI Grant), 2010
Courthouse Security Assessment for the Municipal Court of Mesa, Arizona, 2010
Reassessment Security Analysis for the Maryland Judiciary, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2010
2009
Assistance in Planning and Conducting Three Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Training Summits for the Georgia Administrative Office of Courts, 2009
Building Security Assessment for the Maricopa County, Arizona, Superior Court, 2009
Continuity of Operations (COOP) Consulting Services for the District of Columbia Courts, 2009
Courthouse Entry and Security Screening Operations Assessment of the Accomack Circuit Court, Second Judicial Circuit Accomac, Virginia (TechnicalAssistance), 2009
Courthouse Security Needs Assessment for the Supreme Court of Louisiana, Office of the Judicial Administrator, 2009
Creation of a Self Help Video to Assist Courts with a Pandemic Flu Epidemic “COOP Planning: Maintaining the Rule of Law—Planning for a Pandemic within an All-Hazards Context” (SJI Grant), 2009
Develop and Test an Emergency Response and Continuity of Operations Plan for the Vermont Supreme Court, 2009
Review of Inmate Holding, Court Security Standards, and Courthouse Facility Standards for the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, 2009
Training for U.S. Marshal’s Service (Follow-up Program) (SJI Grant) Security Assessment and Strategic Planning Services for the Oregon Judicial Department, 2009
U.S. Marshal’s Service Court Security Seminar III (SJI Grant), 2009
2008
Court Security Practices for the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona Court Tower Building, 2008
Develop a Curriculum for Training Court Security Officers and Provide Initial Training for a Core Group for the Supreme Court of Arkansas, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2008
Emergency Preparedness Training for the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, 2008
Provide Training on Development and Implementing Emergency Preparedness and Security Plans for the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, 2008
Review Court Security Training Programs for Judges, Court Staff, and Court Security Officers for the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, 2008
Review of Court Security Manuals for the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, 2008
Review Policies and Guidelines on Emergency Preparedness and Security for the Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2008
Review Screening Areas at the Main and West Entrances of the Central Courts Building for the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, 2008
Security Assessment for the Sheriff’s Department, County of San Diego California (Ten Courthouses), 2008
Security Assessment of the Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, Boston, Massachusetts, 2008
Training for U.S. Marshal’s Service (Pilot Program) (SJI Grant), 2008
2007
Court Security Assessment for Orange County Superior Court (Santa Ana), California (Nine Courthouses), 2007
Court Security and Disaster Recovery Standards Development Project for the Kansas Judicial Branch, 2007
Emergency Preparedness Consulting for the Texas Supreme Court, 2007
Review of the Disaster Preparedness and Continuity of Operations Plan for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch (Technical Assistance), 2007
Review of Emergency Preparedness Plans for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, Florida, 2007
Review of Emergency Preparedness Standards for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (Technical Assistance), 2007
Review of Emergency Response Plans for the Department of Public Safety, State of New York Unified Court System (Technical Assistance), 2007
Security Assessment of the Municipal Court of Atlanta, Georgia, 2007
2006
Courthouse and Courtroom Security Review for the Fulton County, Georgia Superior Court, Fifth Judicial District (Three Courthouses) 2006
Courthouse Security Assessment for the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts (37 Courthouses/buildings), 2006
Personal Safety Training and Courtroom Staff Training for Judges in Essex and Middlesex Vicinages, New Jersey, 2006
Personal Safety Training for Judges and State Court Staff for the Fulton County, Georgia State Court, 2006
Security Assessment of Courthouses in Harris County (Houston), Texas (Six Courthouses), 2006
Security Review and Facilites Assessment for Snohomish County (Everett), Washington (Three Courthouses), 2006
2005
General Physical Security Review for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court Dade County (Miami), Florida (Ten Courthouses), 2005
Organizational Assessment of the Marshal’s Division for Seattle, Washington Municipal Court, 2005
Overland Park (Kansas) Municipal Court Facility Security Renovation Planning Project, 2005
2004
18th Judicial Circuit, Illinois, Security Presentation, 2004