SCR 68.05

(1) The presiding judge for each county shall appoint a security and

facilities committee composed of all of the following:

(a) One circuit judge to serve as chairperson.

(b) The chairperson of the county board.

(c) The county executive, county administrator, or administrative

coordinator.

(d) The clerk of the circuit court.

(e) The county sheriff.

(f) The district attorney.

(g) The Wisconsin State Public Defender.

(h) A circuit court commissioner.

(i) One lawyer designated by the president of the local bar association. If

there is no association, the presiding judge shall appoint a lawyer residing in the

county.

(j) One representative of a victim-witness support organization.

(k) One representative of the facilities/maintenance department.

(l) Such other persons as the committee considers appropriate.

A person specified in sub. (b) – (g) may designate a person for appointment to the

committee in his or her place.

(2) In the absence of a presiding judge or if the presiding judge is unable to

act, the chief judge of the judicial administrative district in which the county is

located shall act on behalf of the presiding judge under this subsection.

COMMENT

The creation of a committee which includes all of the designated persons is essential to achieve the overall

goals of these standards. The purpose of this rule is to insure that the court system is proactive, geared to

prevention, not merely reactive, responding to violent, perhaps tragic, incidents. Committees are encouraged to

consider if it is appropriate to include a member of the public on the committee. Committees created under this rule

generally are not subject to requirements of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. See State ex rel. Lynch v. Dancey,

71 Wis. 2d 287, 238 N.W.2d 81 (1976). However, if public officials in attendance generate a quorum of a different

public body, open meetings guidelines for that body must be followed. See, e.g., State ex rel. Badke v. Village of

Greendale, 173 Wis. 2d 553, 573-74, 494 N.W.2d 408 (1993) and State ex rel. Newspapers, Inc. v. Showers, 135

Wis. 2d 77, 398 N.W.2d 154 (1987).

(3) The committee shall meet quarterly.

(4) The committee shall coordinate and develop general court security and

facilities policies and procedures including:

(a) A system for collecting data related to threats and incidents occurring in

court facilities or against court officials or staff.

COMMENT

Collection of county-level security threat and incident data is useful in prioritizing the allocation and

placement of security equipment and personnel, including data regarding prohibited items identified or confiscated

during security screening.

(b) A policy for the submission of security threat and incident reports to the

director of state courts (electronically or using form CS-265, or successor form)

within 10 business days following a security incident or threat.

(c) A policy for the submission of annual reports to the district court

administrator regarding courthouse construction, remodeling, or security

improvement activities, and regarding active shooter drills or other training events

that support court security operations or preparedness.

COMMENT

A systematic reporting procedure for threats to judicial officers, court staff, or their families should be

established in each county pursuant to SCR 70.34. This serves the beneficial purpose of allowing persons other than

the object of the threat to assess its seriousness, as there may be a tendency by the person threatened to minimize it

as "part of the job." The policy should designate the person to whom threats are to be reported, establish the

responsibility for investigation or other response, and provide for the retention of records of all reported threats.

(d) A policy for the screening and secure distribution of mail and deliveries.

Such screening should take place in a dedicated, secure area.

(e) A policy for the issuance, control, and collection of keys and electronic

access devices for each court facility, governing access before, during and after

business hours.

(f) A policy to control access to court facilities for third party subcontractors

and vendors.

(g) An annual training program for all employees in coordination with the

county sheriff. Training should be provided to all new employees and existing

employees upon change in assignment, as appropriate.

(h) Procedures for a sworn officer/court security officer to patrol the halls

and public areas.

(i) A policy regarding possession of firearms by law enforcement officers

who appear as witnesses, litigants, or who are present on personal business in the

court facility.

(j) A procedure for allowing the possession of firearms by those who are

statutorily authorized to do so.

(k) A list of prohibited items not allowed to be brought into the court

facility.

(L) A notice to the public and employees regarding prohibited items not

allowed in the facility and warning that persons entering the facility are subject to

search.

(m) A procedure to calibrate screening equipment consistent with

manufacturers' directions.

(n) A plan for addressing disruptions at court proceedings.

(o) A policy for searching each courtroom or other vulnerable area for

explosives or other dangerous instrumentalities before the commencement of court

proceedings each day.

COMMENT

The need for this regular practice is greatest in those counties where courtrooms are used for non-judicial

purposes on evenings and weekends. Courtrooms should be locked when not in use.

(p) A preparedness plan for disasters impacting or affecting court operations

in coordination with the local emergency management department.

(q) A procedure to review exterior building features with security in mind,

such as an electronic surveillance system and external lighting.

COMMENT

The dangers created by external features of a court facility building may be significant. Wide variations

among counties as to their local needs and the designs of their courthouses render a uniform standard impracticable.

Each committee should assess risk factors and consider solutions to minimize danger.

(r) A policy for the monitoring, surveillance, and safety of all parking areas

including public, employee, and other designated parking areas.

COMMENT

The best practice is to prohibit vehicular parking in close physical proximity to the building.

(s) A juror safety policy.

COMMENT

Jurors must be safeguarded from those who would seek to intimidate or engage in reprisals. Juror safety

issues may extend outside the court facility and beyond the time of trial.

(t) A procedure whereby each judicial officer may complete and submit a

judicial profile for law enforcement purposes and a process for updating the

document on an annual basis.

COMMENT

The judicial security profile provides a template for judicial officers which addresses Wisconsin law,

including Wis. Stat. Ch. 19. Use of the profile requires cooperation with each county sheriff as well as other

applicable law enforcement agencies.

(u) A policy for periodic security audits.

(v) A policy on money collection and the safeguarding of money.

COMMENT

Offices in courthouse facilities collect substantial amounts of money. An enhanced protection program for

these funds will not only safeguard the taxpayers' treasury but will also deter any efforts to engage in violence for

financial gain.

(w) A policy for the handling and storage of firearms, other dangerous

instrumentalities and contraband received as evidence during court proceedings.

COMMENT

Documents and other exhibits received during judicial proceedings must be safeguarded as part of the court

record. Certain items of evidence present reasons for special attention to their handling during breaks, overnight in

multi-day proceedings and following the conclusion of the proceeding in which they are introduced.

(x) Consideration of whether the committee can assist the municipal courts

in its county in security matters.