In response to the dramatic rise in local courthouse violence across the nation--including a shooting in December at the Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais during which several people were wounded--U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has introduced the Local Courthouse Safety Act to improve security at smaller courthouses. Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) signed on as original cosponsors of the legislation.
Sen. Franken's legislation would address security concerns, like a lack of screening equipment and training at local courthouses, by giving courthouses access to the resources they need to improve security. Many local courthouses, especially in rural and suburban areas, lack even basic security measures like metal detectors.
"Under no circumstances should our local sheriffs or court personnel have to put their lives at risk to ensure that the basic acts of our judicial system get carried out," said Sen. Franken. "My legislation will give courtrooms access to the basic resources they need to make sure that every Minnesotan's day in court is safe."
"Unfortunately, in Arkansas, we are not strangers to courthouse violence," said Sen. Boozman. "Five months ago, a gunman walked in to the Crawford County Courthouse and opened fire. Law enforcement responded swiftly and appropriately, but they must have more help to stop this type of unnecessary violent attack from happening. By giving states the authority to use existing grant money to improve courthouse safety, and by eliminating bureaucratic red tape that stalls access to excess federal security equipment, like metal detectors and other screening tools, we can help prevent another tragedy from taking place at a local courthouse."
"I will never forget the tragic courthouse shooting we had in the Hennepin County Government Center and our resulting prosecution and enhanced security measures," said Sen. Klobuchar. "The recent shooting at the Cook County Courthouse demonstrates that more needs to be done to keep local courthouses safe and this bill will help improve security and prevent future violence."
Jim Franklin, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, estimated that most rural courthouses in the state have no metal detectors on site. Several judges around the state have also voiced concern about safety in courthouses; one wrote, "I'm no longer willing to risk my life, the life of court staff, the life of the public who have no choice about going to court."
The Local Courthouse Safety Act would:
Provide local courts with access to security training;
Give states authority to use existing grant money to improve courthouse security; and
Cut through bureaucratic red tape, giving local courts access to excess federal security equipment, such as metal detectors and screening devices.
You can view a video of a speech Sen. Franken--who is a member of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus--delivered on the Senate floor about his legislation here and read a transcript of his remarks here and below.
Sen. Franken's bill has been endorsed in Minnesota by The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, The Minnesota County Attorneys Association, The President of the Association of Minnesota Counties, The Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, The Minnesota State Court Administrator, Cook County Commissioner Sue Hakes, Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk, Cook County Board Chair Janice Hall, The Center for Judicial and Executive Security, and WATCH Minnesota. Nationally, it has been endorsed by The National Sheriffs' Association, The Conference of Chief Justices, and The Conference of State Court Administrators.
http://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1941
