GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Brown County will again consider a secure, single entry point at the Brown County Courthouse, an issue that’s been discussed for decades.
In 2019, a $1.9 million addition to the northside of the courthouse was discussed but not acted upon. Again last spring, the idea was discussed, but without action.
There are currently five entrances to the courthouse, although usually just the door on the south side of the original courthouse are used. There is no security screening station there. The county does have portable metal detectors which can be placed in front of specific courtrooms in elevated-risk situations but are rarely used.
During the county’s Circuit Court Security and Facility Committee meeting Tuesday, Sheriff Todd DeLain said his department and county administration are working on a variety of options. While there’s not yet a specific plan – or cost – moving to one entrance is coming.
“I think, long-term, getting people familiar with the fact that there’s going to be a single-point entrance, people getting accustomed to that, I think, is prudent. It will likely be a little bit of time before we have screening at a single-point entrance. But a single-point entrance focus is a good method of being able to screen people through one area instead of having to monitor people that might be coming in from a bunch of different areas,” DeLain said. “I do feel that this is moving forward, maybe not at the pace everyone would hope, but I think we all also understand that it’s important to make the right decision for the future of Brown County.”
Supv. Keith Deneys cited the adage that “security is inconvenient,” but said that, since the pandemic, people are more accepting of having limited entrances to facilities. It’s now a matter of finalizing a plan and finding the funds, he said.
Security guidelines written by the Wisconsin Supreme Court recommend, but do not mandate, that “A court facility should have a single entrance with appropriate screening mechanisms in place to screen persons, carry-in items and packages. Screening stations should be equipped with a magnetometer, x-ray for packages and carry-in items, duress alarms, and video surveillance.”
The county also has to consider that studies show the county could use two more judges, and there’s currently no space set aside for that, DeLain said.
Wednesday’s County Board agenda includes an item asking the administration to develop plans for a secure entrance, which will likely be sent to the Public Safety Committee for discussion on Sept. 6. The fate of the downtown jail, which is still used for daily holding of inmates appearing in court, may also be discussed then.
A county official has said that out of the state’s 12 most populous counties, Brown is the only one that doesn’t have screening to enter its courthouse.
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