Introduction
The growth of science and technology globally has gradually facilitated the empowerment of the security and justice systems in dispensing justice responsibly. Serious efforts have been put in place to improve the quality of justice and the public trust in the judicial system. Among some of the issues include courthouse security that essentially aims at preventing possible threats to the safety of people and items within the courtroom. The helpful use of security systems like the closed-circuit television (CCTV) has become unquestionable as a means of surveillance significant in the detection of potential threats. This paper intends to discuss the element of courthouse security with regards to the security measures in place.
The CCTV system and the courthouse
The Closed-Circuit Television is one of the security systems found in the courthouse. It refers to a set of complex multicamera system consisting of a video surveillance camera and recorder that transmit sequential images or videos for viewing on a monitor (Kruegle, 1995). CCTV systems can be fixed or varied to allow surveillance of various selected areas as need arises.
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The CCTV systems can be used to create a safe and secured courthouse. Courts handle many types of cases on a daily basis and hence get so many people including victims, court staff, the public, and the accused composed of those with criminal behaviors. It is therefore, significant for courthouses to be secure and all precautions must be put in place for security to be achieved.
The CCTV systems play a significant role in deterring violent acts in the courthouse since there would be visual evidence should such incidences occur. They also properly situated in the courtrooms to monitor for criminal activity since they enable security personnel to keep an eye on activities to detect any possible threats. The CCTV systems further enhance protection of court staff. Given the common tension moments in the courts, outbursts from individuals may occur putting the court staff at risk of violence. The use of CCTV systems can help spot and stop such instances before they occur.
History and importance of CCTV
The use of CCTV cameras in the court room is an issue that bore contention since the 1940s. Then, most stakeholders fought its use arguing that it infringed on the privacy of the public thereby curtailing their right to privacy. The use of cameras was as a media of electronic coverage in the courthouse was outlawed in 1946 by the Federal Rule 3 whose intention was to protect the privacy of the people. However, in the year 1990 through recommendations from an ad hoc committee on the use of electronic media coverage in the courtroom, there began a pilot program allowing use of electronic coverage in the courts (Lane, 2011). That was gradually adopted bit by bit even though security was cited as the main reason other than storage of court proceedings.
The use of CCTV in the courtroom is significant in promoting transparency. That is because all stakeholders are prone to act professionally as required with the knowledge that they may be monitored for the good of the public. Allowing the use of CCTV in the courtroom has proved to be significant in not only promoting transparency in the court but also through other significant ways. They facilitate the protection of witnesses from intimidation from the accused persons (Wilson, 2018). For instance in child abuse cases, children may give their witness statements through the use of CCTV where they do not confront their offenders, and they hence feel safe giving their testimonies.
Control access feature
Control access refers to the security feature that allows selective restriction of various information, places and data to persons as deemed necessary. That is significant in enhancing confidentiality of information and protecting the privacy of the public. CCTV systems are often paired to the control access systems where only authorized users can gain entry to various places in the courtroom using special tools like access cards, and only for authorized usage (Pendas, 2016). The use of the control access feature is very significant in the courthouse setting given the sensitivity of various court proceedings.
Having the control access feature in place facilitates selective entry of people where they are supposed to be. For instance, no one would get access to the judge’s chambers apart from the judges themselves. Similarly, offenders are only allowed in their corners which are demarcated, and so is the case for all the court stakeholders. Enabling the control enhances the security of the court stakeholders and protects them from malicious intentions should any kind of violence acts arise. For example, a violent outburst from an offender due to an unfavorable judgement would not be threatening for the judge since the offender cannot get access to the judge’s chambers.
Courtroom zoning
Zoning of courts has been viewed as an effective method of securing the courtroom. The four quadrants involved are the: judge/juror area, defendant area, plaintiff area and spectator area. This form of separation is beneficial to the court as it facilitates the protection from possible violent attacks by the accused persons in the event of unfavourable judgement. Similarly, the public or case spectators are kept far within their authorized areas to avoid confusion as to what role they play. A disadvantage of this system, however, may be that it isolates the defendant making them to be viewed as dangerous and hostile even though their innocence is assumed until they are proven guilty.
References
Kruegle, H. (1995). CCTV Technology Overview. CCTV Surveillance, 11-39.
Lane, K. M. (2011). Water, technology, and the courtroom: negotiating reclamation policy in territorial New Mexico. Journal of Historical Geography , 300-311.
Pendas, J. M. (2016). Political Trials in Theory and History. Cambridge University Press.
Wilson, D. (2018). Surveilance, Crime and Social Control. Routledge.
