Post by Marc LeVine on Jan 26, 2007 14:34:40 GMT -5
Court security plan to cost Freehold $66G
Improvements required by state
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/23/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — The borough will make an estimated $66,500 worth of improvements to implement a municipal court security plan proposed by a committee of borough leaders and law enforcement professionals.
The New Jersey Supreme Court in August adopted a policy requiring every town to create a local municipal court security committee and develop a security plan.
State Superior Court Judge Lawrence M. Lawson, who, as assignment judge, is in charge of overseeing the county's 53 municipal courts, ordered the municipalities to develop the plans and have first drafts submitted to him no later than Dec. 29.
Lawson said he has received all of them.
"My staff is going through them now," he said, adding that his staff will provide him with a report indicating which plans are acceptable and which ones need improvement.
He then will go over the plans with his acting municipal division manager, Sharon Astorino, next week.
Final drafts must be submitted to him by Feb. 5.
The Supreme Court policy called for every municipal courtroom in the state to have an array of security measures from armed police officers present during proceedings to weapons screening, ballistic shielding of the judge's bench and a silent alarm installed for judges and payment clerks. These measures collectively are called the New Jersey Municipal Court Schedule of Protection.
Soon after the court's adoption of the policy, Freehold Mayor Michael Wilson formed a committee consisting of Municipal Court Judge Scott J. Basen, Court Administrator Stacy Kitson, council liaison Kevin Kane, Borough Administrator Joseph B. Bellina and Police Chief Michael F. Beierschmitt.
"It's a significant expense to make these security enhancements," Bellina said. "The state wanted us to conduct an exercise to see what lapses there might be and make improvements that were practicable."
Now that the borough knows what lapses exist, it feels an obligation to carry through and implement the findings, he added.
Bellina said the borough will conduct an analysis of all its buildings, including borough hall, in the near future.
The Borough Council reviewed the plan at a Jan. 16 workshop meeting. In it, the committee recommended the borough purchase perimeter security cameras for $13,000, a walk-through metal detector for $5,000, handheld metal detectors for $500, $2,000 worth of perimeter signage, $35,000 worth of building improvements, and videoconferencing at a cost of $11,000. The building improvements do not take into account the cost of engineering or architecture.
In addition, there will be a $25,000 annual expense to provide an armed police officer for scheduled court sessions.
The issue of municipal court security and safety will be addressed at a summit from 8:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 30 in the Monmouth County Agricultural Building at 4000 Kozloski Road in Freehold Township, behind and to the right of the Monmouth County Police Academy.
Municipal judges, court administrators, deputy court administrators, mayors and town administrators are invited.
Improvements required by state
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/23/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — The borough will make an estimated $66,500 worth of improvements to implement a municipal court security plan proposed by a committee of borough leaders and law enforcement professionals.
The New Jersey Supreme Court in August adopted a policy requiring every town to create a local municipal court security committee and develop a security plan.
State Superior Court Judge Lawrence M. Lawson, who, as assignment judge, is in charge of overseeing the county's 53 municipal courts, ordered the municipalities to develop the plans and have first drafts submitted to him no later than Dec. 29.
Lawson said he has received all of them.
"My staff is going through them now," he said, adding that his staff will provide him with a report indicating which plans are acceptable and which ones need improvement.
He then will go over the plans with his acting municipal division manager, Sharon Astorino, next week.
Final drafts must be submitted to him by Feb. 5.
The Supreme Court policy called for every municipal courtroom in the state to have an array of security measures from armed police officers present during proceedings to weapons screening, ballistic shielding of the judge's bench and a silent alarm installed for judges and payment clerks. These measures collectively are called the New Jersey Municipal Court Schedule of Protection.
Soon after the court's adoption of the policy, Freehold Mayor Michael Wilson formed a committee consisting of Municipal Court Judge Scott J. Basen, Court Administrator Stacy Kitson, council liaison Kevin Kane, Borough Administrator Joseph B. Bellina and Police Chief Michael F. Beierschmitt.
"It's a significant expense to make these security enhancements," Bellina said. "The state wanted us to conduct an exercise to see what lapses there might be and make improvements that were practicable."
Now that the borough knows what lapses exist, it feels an obligation to carry through and implement the findings, he added.
Bellina said the borough will conduct an analysis of all its buildings, including borough hall, in the near future.
The Borough Council reviewed the plan at a Jan. 16 workshop meeting. In it, the committee recommended the borough purchase perimeter security cameras for $13,000, a walk-through metal detector for $5,000, handheld metal detectors for $500, $2,000 worth of perimeter signage, $35,000 worth of building improvements, and videoconferencing at a cost of $11,000. The building improvements do not take into account the cost of engineering or architecture.
In addition, there will be a $25,000 annual expense to provide an armed police officer for scheduled court sessions.
The issue of municipal court security and safety will be addressed at a summit from 8:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 30 in the Monmouth County Agricultural Building at 4000 Kozloski Road in Freehold Township, behind and to the right of the Monmouth County Police Academy.
Municipal judges, court administrators, deputy court administrators, mayors and town administrators are invited.
