County Courthouse security upgrades being implemented
Visitors to the Dubois County Courthouse will be met with upgraded security measures beginning this week.
A walk-through metal detectors and a bag scanner have been installed at the east entrance of the courthouse, and starting Feb. 10, all visitors and employees will have to pass through those measures as they enter the courthouse.
The new procedures are designed to enhance safety and prevent potential threats.
“The purpose is to keep the public, the employees, the courts, everybody safe,” said County Commissioner Chad Blessinger at Monday’s commissioner meeting. “Because one of the things we’ve had happen in the past is people would bring in large, bulky backpacks. And we don’t know what’s in them.”
Officials encourage visitors to leave backpacks and bulky items in their vehicles to streamline entry. Women may also need to leave purses behind if they don’t want them scanned. Weapons or anything that can be used as a weapon, like a pocket knife, won’t be allowed into the courthouse.
Additionally, any item found in violation will have to be stored in a person’s vehicle; they will not be able to leave it with courthouse personnel.
The implementation will begin with a training session for court security staff this week, followed by a soft opening to familiarize employees with the new procedures. Visitors will start going through the new procedures starting next Monday.
“It’s going to be a learning experience for all of us,” said Deputy Thomas Bell, a security team member at the courthouse.
Bell noted that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings can be busy. He recommended anyone visiting the courthouse at those times show up about ten minutes earlier. Additionally, anyone serving jury duty or included in a selection pool for jury duty should allot extra time when reporting to the courts.
The security process will be similar to that of other courthouses. Visitors will place personal items like keys and wallets in a container for scanning and then walk through a metal detector. Visitors may also be scanned by a handheld scanner if necessary.
“If there’s no issues, then they’ll just be free to go their way,” Bell said.
Bell told the commissioners that his feedback on the new measures has been positive as visitors have seen the newly installed equipment. “They say it’s about time we have this stuff there,” he said.
Along with the new security measures at the east entrance, all other entrances will no longer be used except by authorized personnel and law enforcement.
