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On April 25, the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College will offer a three-hour video teleconference course titled “Security Awareness” for court personnel to prevent security problems and be prepared to respond to them when they do occur.
Presented by personnel from the Supreme Court’s Office of Court Security and the U.S. Marshals Service, the course will help participants better identify potential security threats; outline who’s responsible for providing security in each jurisdiction according to the Ohio Revised Code; and explain the services available through the Office of Court Security.
“What we hope to gain from this course is a better understanding among all court personnel that each of them shares in the responsibility of making Ohio’s courthouses secure, not just the bailiffs and court security officers,” said Sam Cicchino, Security Services Program Manager in the Office of Court Security, who will serve as one of the course instructors.
This course follows on the heels of a seminar on “High Threat and High Profile Trials” that drew more than 100 participants from Ohio and California to the Ohio Judicial Center in January. At that seminar, participants were provided with details on how to plan for trials that pose a high security risk.
Nearly three years ago, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer formed a statewide committee to address court safety and security in Ohio and appointed Justice Maureen O’Connor as chair. The Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Security and Emergency Preparedness is tasked with identifying best practices for safety and security in courts and courthouses throughout the state; ensuring the development of emergency preparedness and continuity of operations plans by courts; and developing and disseminating standards related to these issues.
In addition to providing security for the Supreme Court and the Ohio Judicial Center, the Office of Court Security also assists county and local courts in the development of emergency and security procedures; provides assistance in the operational planning and coordination for high-risk or sensitive trials; and assesses the security and security practices of Ohio’s courthouses. The Office of Court Security also offers additional training opportunities on basic courthouse checkpoint screening, X-ray operation, image recognition and interpretation and TASER user training and certification.
For more information on this course, visit the Judicial College Web site at http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/judcoll/default.asp. A complete listing of the most up-to-date course calendar and dates and locations for other courses available in April as well as the remainder of 2008 is also available at this link. To contact the Judicial College, dial 614.387.9445 or e-mail jcollege@sconet.state.oh.us.