NCJ Number
207101
Journal
Sheriff Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2004 Pages: 40,42,45
Date Published
September 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes some basic design concepts and requirements for securing a modern court facility.
Abstract
The primary goals in securing a courthouse involve deterrence, detection, delay, halting and controlling a breach, and minimizing or eliminating damage. The basic design concept for securing a courthouse is to organize it into four zones that group individuals coming to the courthouse based on their function, separating them until they meet in the courtroom. The "public zone" contains the offices and support area that serve the public; the "private zone" includes spaces for judges, jurors, staff, and authorized users; the "prisoner zone" contains spaces for movement and short-term detention of persons in custody; and the "interface zone" is where the attorneys and the public meet judges, court staff, jurors, and those in custody. This article suggests design and security features for each of these zones. Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is an important concept in courthouse security. CPTED should be a consideration in designing for the security of the court building site as well as the public areas inside the building. The CPTED principles that apply are natural access control, natural surveillance, and territorial reinforcement. This article also discusses other design requirements for security and the critical role played by security personnel. 7 notes and 20 listings for additional information