Are U.S. courthouses truly safe? Are metal detectors the final word in public safety? At the brand new South Placer County (California) Justice Center, technology has the answer.
Judges and staff, detainees, the public, all travel through distinct, separate entrances and hallways. Sally ports ensure that deputies can move criminals securely from one zone to another. Security personnel, notified by intercom, open and close doors from a central operations center via a failsafe touch screen controller, with surveillance cameras monitoring each location.
The technology engineering firm TEECOM is responsible for this state-of-the-art system, which also integrates audio-visual and telecommunications elements. Phase One of the center - a courthouse and detention facility - will be in operation in Q1 of 2008; the long-range plan ultimately calls for five buildings and eight courthouses.
