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Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Ind. Courts - Ind. Courts - Martin County receives grant for courthouse security

Nate Smith of the Washington Times Herald reports today:

SHOALS - Security will be tighter at the Martin County Courthouse because of a $49,000 grant announced during Tuesday's Martin County
Commissioners meeting.

Circuit Judge Joseph Howell received word Tuesday that the county was
awarded the grant through the state Department of Homeland Security. * * * "It is good that Martin County is getting ahead of what will be mandatory for all courthouses by the Indiana Supreme Court," Howell said after the meeting.

Commissioner President Mike Dant said after the meeting he was glad to see
improvements to the courthouse and that the county will not pay for the
upgrade.

One stipulation for the grant was the commissioners must get construction
rolling by the Oct. 31 deadline for installation.

Commissioners reviewed three bids for the cameras and metal detector and
awarded the bid to Barclay Group, an Anderson-based security company. In
the bid, 20 cameras will be installed in the hallways and outside the
courthouse. A live feed will link the cameras to the sheriff's department.

"The public will not have to worry (about the camera coverage)," Howell
said. "It's about the same type of coverage you find at grocery stores."
Cameras will not be installed in the offices of county officeholders. A
decision on where to put the metal detector has not been made.

I looked back and was surprised to find that there is now quite a long list of ILB entries on courthouse security efforts.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 27, 2006 04:23 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts