Court Security Officers Need More Training
Jim Kouri, CPP
September 26, 2005
The sharp rise of violence in criminal court buildings -- from minor disturbances
to murder -- has prompted a re-examination of safeguards for the judicial
process and personnel and of the transportation of prisoners to and from court.
An assessment was conducted by the National Sheriff's Association, in cooperation with the US Department of Justice, since most counties in the US use deputy sherrifs for court security.
The majority of court security and prisoner transport personnel are 40- to 50-year-old males who attended college for at least 1 or 2 years
and are very satisfied with their jobs. A majority have completed a training program
in court security, prisoner transportation, or serving of civil or criminal process.
However, many felt they were not fully prepared to meet new and emerging challenges. Fewer than half the responding agencies provide
training in vehicle operation, which is a key area for liability actions. Also, fewer than half the agencies instruct officers in the proper application of commonly used restraining devices (e.g., handcuffs,
straps, leg irons). A vehicle operation training curriculum could include commercial driver's
license requirements; driver's pursuit and defensive training; liability issues; care, custody, control, and supervision procedures; driver and escort officer/deputy responsibilities; and use of specialized equipment.
In addition, although they rarely perform routine maintenance tasks, over half the respondents said they inspect some security equipment (e.g., vehicles, doors) and conduct security checks inside and outside courthouses. Fewer than half, however,
inspect equipment such as scanning devices, alarms, and cameras.
Respondents said they need more instruction in legal liabilities; legal responsibilities of
supervision; firearms; court functions, duties, and security; serving of civil or criminal process; and transporting prisoners both on the ground (e.g., in an automobile, bus, or van) and in the air. They also felt they needed more education about
vicarious liability; possible areas for suits include failure to train or direct and negligence in supervision, entrustment, assignment, hiring, and retention.
The study suggests that basic court security and prisoner transport training programs should provide a minimum of 80 hours of classroom instruction over a 4- to 6-week period. Personnel should also be certified in certain key areas such as the use of
electronic nonlethal equipment (e.g., stun, laser, and taser guns and stun belts) and methods of applying physical force to control defendants in high-risk situations.
All trainees should pass examinations to demonstrate they have adequate knowledge and skills before they are assigned to security or prisoner transport duties. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires personnel transporting prisoners to pass a certified 2-hour block of training.
Sources: US Department of Justice, National Sheriffs Association
to murder -- has prompted a re-examination of safeguards for the judicial
process and personnel and of the transportation of prisoners to and from court.
An assessment was conducted by the National Sheriff's Association, in cooperation with the US Department of Justice, since most counties in the US use deputy sherrifs for court security.
The majority of court security and prisoner transport personnel are 40- to 50-year-old males who attended college for at least 1 or 2 years
and are very satisfied with their jobs. A majority have completed a training program
in court security, prisoner transportation, or serving of civil or criminal process.
However, many felt they were not fully prepared to meet new and emerging challenges. Fewer than half the responding agencies provide
training in vehicle operation, which is a key area for liability actions. Also, fewer than half the agencies instruct officers in the proper application of commonly used restraining devices (e.g., handcuffs,
straps, leg irons). A vehicle operation training curriculum could include commercial driver's
license requirements; driver's pursuit and defensive training; liability issues; care, custody, control, and supervision procedures; driver and escort officer/deputy responsibilities; and use of specialized equipment.
In addition, although they rarely perform routine maintenance tasks, over half the respondents said they inspect some security equipment (e.g., vehicles, doors) and conduct security checks inside and outside courthouses. Fewer than half, however,
inspect equipment such as scanning devices, alarms, and cameras.
Respondents said they need more instruction in legal liabilities; legal responsibilities of
supervision; firearms; court functions, duties, and security; serving of civil or criminal process; and transporting prisoners both on the ground (e.g., in an automobile, bus, or van) and in the air. They also felt they needed more education about
vicarious liability; possible areas for suits include failure to train or direct and negligence in supervision, entrustment, assignment, hiring, and retention.
The study suggests that basic court security and prisoner transport training programs should provide a minimum of 80 hours of classroom instruction over a 4- to 6-week period. Personnel should also be certified in certain key areas such as the use of
electronic nonlethal equipment (e.g., stun, laser, and taser guns and stun belts) and methods of applying physical force to control defendants in high-risk situations.
All trainees should pass examinations to demonstrate they have adequate knowledge and skills before they are assigned to security or prisoner transport duties. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires personnel transporting prisoners to pass a certified 2-hour block of training.
Sources: US Department of Justice, National Sheriffs Association
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