Court Security Measures Prove Effective

Increased security measures have proven to be effective at the Putnam County Courthouse.

Sheriff Eddie Farris said new X-ray machines and metal detectors may have saved some lives recently.

“We’ve gotten anything from many types of knives to a sword, and many other potential weapons that have tried to be snuck through the system and into the courtroom area,” Farris said. “We feel like we have made it much safer over in that area.”

Farris said the sheriff’s office began installing new equipment and implementing increased security protocols in November.

“We were lucky to receive some grant money to help us get new machines and help us put some of these other measures in place,” Farris said. “We feel good about what we’ve done right now and it seems to work very well.”

Farris said there could be some minor adjustments made in the future.

Checkpoint deputies screen between 500-1200 people daily and they screened nearly 90,0000 people at the justice center last year.

Farris said a total of 13 court security deputies work at the justice center serving many different roles.

“Most of those are on a part-time status so they’re not always on shift at the same time,” Farris said. “Some work the metal detector and X-ray machines, some stay with the judges, and others walk the halls and courtroom areas.”

Farris said the whole objective of the increased security is to make the justice center safer and not more difficult for people.