Topic

1 hour

Staff and participants meet one another.   Participants receive an overview of the seminar.  All administrative matters are completed.

Participants discuss the basic principles of courthouse security and are introduced to state-of-the-art electronic equipment which can be used to support the mission. This includes physical protection systems, closed circuit TV, duress alarms, lighting systems, reinforced judges benches, and window security systems. Participants learn to employ concentric circles of protection to reduce vulnerability to terrorism. 

Participants learn to perform a basic physical security site survey of a structure, with emphasis on hardening the outside perimeter to terrorist attack.

Participants learn the basic principles of metal detectors, identify ways people try to circumvent, and discuss metal detectors shortcomings.   Participants become familiar with various disguised weapons.

Participants learn generally accepted procedures for the threat analysis and various sources for intelligence.   Participants discuss the different types of threats and appropriate protection responses.  Protective investigations are distinguished from criminal investigations.

Participants learn protective tactics and foot formations to protect a judge against credible threats and terrorist attacks.

Participants break into groups and demonstrate the learned protective tactics and formations when moving a judge on foot.

Participants discuss how to maintain security in the courtroom. They review proper searching and restraining of prisoners and moving prisoners safely to and from court. They learn techniques to exercise control of defendants on bond in court. They review techniques to deal with a variety of courtroom disturbances, especially disruptions in the gallery. They discuss strategies to address the security risks attendant in family court, contentious civil proceedings and juvenile trials.

Participants discuss the functions and problems of petit and sequestered juries, including:  responsibilities, accommodations, security of jury quarters, meals, mail, laundry, TV, newspapers, telephone, travel, recreation, church, shopping, business affairs, and family visitation.

Participants learn the different areas of consideration when planning for a high threat trial.  Areas included are:   personnel, physical aids, restraints, controlled seating, use of closed circuit TV and sequestered juries.  Participants prepare a high threat trial plan.

Participants break into groups and prepare a high threat trial plan for a provided trial scenario.  Each group works on a different scenario.   The exercise concludes with each group giving a briefing on their plan.

Participants learn the meaning of body movements, facial expressions, personal space and touching. Participants also learn how to interpret these different non-verbal communications.

Participants learn the psychological principles and proposed courses of action during hostage situations.  Additionally, they discuss the profiles of perpetrators, including potential terrorist.

Participants review and discuss common errors and pitfalls leading to officer injury and death.  They learn tactics to avoid these errors, cyclic breathing to reduce stress, and mental rehearsal techniques to set the mind on winning confrontations involving officer injury or death.

Participants undergo a series of realistic exercises designed to test their judgement in handling disruptions in court.

Participants complete training critiques, discuss how to improve the training, and receive their training certificates.

• Be able to use the learned concepts and procedures within their jurisdiction immediately after the seminar.

• Be familiar with state-of-the-art electronic equipment which can be used to support the court security mission.

• Be able to adapt the provided written materials to enhance the court security plans within their jurisdiction