Funds will pay to upgrade safety in municipal court
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD - The Borough Council has taken action aimed at making its municipal court operation in the Rug Mill Towers, Jackson Street, safer for all who use it.

At a meeting on Feb. 20, the council adopted an ordinance appropriating $50,000 to pay for the municipal court security enhancements. Of that amount, $47,500 in bonds will finance part of the cost.

New Jersey communities have been mandated by the state Supreme Court to upgrade their municipal court safety procedures.

According to borough officials, the three key components of the security plan are architectural, technological and operational.

The plan was developed by members of a municipal court security committee that included Municipal Court Judge Scott Basen, court administrator Stacey Kitson, Borough Council President Kevin Kane, Police Chief Michael Beierschmitt and Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina.

According to information provided by the borough, the plan must address the following issues: the perimeter (parking lots to physical security of the building exterior), access control (control monitoring of entrances, exits and weapons screening), circulation control (appropriate separation of public, prisoners, judges and staff), courtroom security (order, control of prisoners etc.), and emergency procedures.

According to Bellina and material provided by the borough, the plan addressees the perimeter by describing the location of the police department and municipal court, which share the same building¿ the Rug Mill Towers. Details regarding parking lot lighting and security cameras are included.

Access control includes an on-duty armed police officer to be stationed next to the judge in the courtroom when court is in session. When prisoners are entering the courtroom, a second armed police officer is to be stationed next to the prisoners.

Circulation control is addressed by having police employ a walk-through metal detector at the door to the courtroom. All persons entering the courtroom will have to pass through the scanner. Members of the public will only be allowed access to the courtroom after they have satisfied the officer that there are no dangerous items in their possession.

Packages will be subject to search. If an individual objects to having a package searched, he will have the option to return the package to his car and enter the courtroom without it. If a weapon or contraband is discovered, the police officer will follow departmental procedures.

To address prisoner transportation and access, a camera is constantly recording prisoners while they are in the police department's booking area as they enter the courtroom.

Video-conferencing is also on the list of equipment acquisitions in order to eliminate the need to transport prisoners from county jails and state prisons. This system will be used for all prisoners who are scheduled to be arraigned unless a prisoner wishes to take a pending court matter to trial, in which case he or she will be transported by the Freehold Borough Police Department.