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NEWS RELEASE The “New” Courthouse…State-of-the-Art Safety
Will the newly renovated Lackawanna County Courthouse meet that goal? Matthew Michalek, Vice President of Operations for the L.R. Costanzo Company, the county’s construction management firm, says yes. “The project team has worked closely with the county and the rest of the renovation team --- even consulting with one of the nation’s top security consultants --- to insure the safety of the public and workers,” comments Michalek. The courthouse will be safe from the outside in. The National Summit on Court Safety and Security reports that security inside the courthouse is only one aspect of ensuring safety for judges and others in the courthouse community. John Zaruba, chairman of the National Sheriffs Association's Court Security Committee, says that security plans must take into account the front of the building, among other places. The Lackawanna County Courthouse and site starts its safety plan right from curb: at the North Washington Avenue main entrance starting with 16 cameras on the outside. Here’s how it works: The site is designed to deter vehicle intrusion from the street in that a vehicle would be met with a series of obstacles before getting near the building. This system utilizes security measures such as bollards, berms, trees and landscaping stones. Furthermore, vehicle access will be limited by road blockers which have a K12 security designation. Card access will be used at the road blockers, as well as the SALLYPort Gate, each with their own access and camera surveillance. At the main entrance, a visitor enters the lobby and is directed by the sheriff’s deputies into the Security Scanning room, located north of the main lobby on the ground floor. Here, there are two X-ray scanners that scan personal belongings, and three, walk-through metal detectors that scan for concealed objects. Throughout the building, the person can be monitored through the use of twenty-five security cameras on the ground floor, thirteen cameras on the first floor, twenty cameras on the second floor, fourteen cameras on the third floor, and four cameras on the fourth floor or attic space. There is also a comprehensive card access system that aids in the protection of the public and staff. Approximately forty-eight doors are secured through the card access system which allows access only to designated county employees. All courtrooms, judges’ chambers and county offices are controlled by this system. Outside of this system, the public still has access to non-secure areas like restrooms, general stairwells, and jury assembly areas. “Security was a priority for our renovated courthouse and grounds,” said Robert C. Cordaro, Chairman of the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners. “We believe that important buildings, employees, and the public need to be secure from terrorism, as well as general criminal activity, and this facility is designed to provide that protection inside and out. The entire professional team and our Construction Managers, L.R. Costanzo, understood and responded to these demands.” Fun Facts:
Editor’s Note |
According to Todd S. Phillips, author of “Architectural Design for Security in Courthouse Facilities” printed in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, “There are more than 3000 courthouses in the United States. Even with the recent nationwide emphasis on court facility planning and construction, many courthouses today still are poorly planned to accommodate current security measures and requirements. The design of court facilities is a unique challenge. At the highest level, court security has a simple purpose: to protect the integrity of court processes and proceedings by providing a safe and secure environment. It is critical that courts not be prevented from administering justice.”