CLEARLAKE – The Superior Court's Clearlake Division will soon have new weapons screening equipment and staff thanks to a state grant.

Superior Court Executive Officer Mary Smith received the Board of Supervisors' approval on Tuesday to install the equipment at the south county courthouse.

California's penal code prohibits unauthorized possession of weapons in a courtroom, courthouse or court building, as well as at public meetings.

A report Smith prepared for the board explains that the state is actively working to increase security at courthouses.

In 2006, a state study found that 94 court facilities in 22 counties lacked the proper perimeter security. As a result, the state's Administrative Office of the Courts asked for funds to address the issue. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger responded by including $13.4 million for staffing and $3.5 million for equipment in his 2006-07 fiscal year budget.

Smith's report noted that the Board of Supervisors gave conceptual approval to weapons perimeter screening at both courthouses at its Sept. 5, 2006, meeting.

The county, Smith reported, will have two people covering the stations during usage, for an annual cost of $97,301. The court has received quotes for hiring unarmed security guards, according to her report.

Smith said the screening stations will include walk-through scanners, hand scanners and x-ray machines. The one-time setup cost for the screening equipment is $38,925.

Smith told the board that she planned to move forward with Clearlake's screening station first, since it was a smaller courthouse and would give them a chance to see how everything worked before taking on Lakeport's larger court facility.

“Our long-term goal, obviously, is to have weapons screening stations in both locations,” she said.

Supervisor Rob Brown said he has concerns about how a new screening station would eventually be handled in the Lakeport courthouse. He said there is a lot of general public business that takes place on the fourth floor of Lakeport's courthouse, and that a screening system needs to be set up in such a way that it doesn't impede the public.

Brown also suggested that there is an opportunity – in a future discussion -- to look at ways to offer enhanced security to the Lakeport courthouse's fourth floor, as opposed to the entire building.

Supervisor Ed Robey wanted to clarify whether or not there would be any costs to the county for the screening and staff. Smith assured the board that all costs will be covered by ongoing state funding.

The Clearlake courthouse has already undergone some modifications at the court's expense, Smith's report to the board noted. Those include moving the entrance doors 8 feet for additional space, and placing panic hardware on a side door, which allows it to stay locked while also functioning as an emergency exit.

In an interview after the board meeting, Smith said that she expects that equipment will be ordered and in place at the Clearlake court soon, possibly within a month. “We're trying to get up as quickly as possible,” she said.

As for Lakeport's courthouse, she said she's still working out all of the issues involved with securing that facility. Part of that includes being sensitive to all the fourth-floor tenants, including other county offices.

The state Administrative Office of the Courts is working out bids on card-key access and monitoring systems, which she believes will be essential for the Lakeport site. Until the state settles on vendors and other logistical issues are worked out, Smith said Lakeport's project will be delayed.

“The size of this building warrants additional measures,” she said.

There will be, however, some security upgrades for Lakeport's courthouse taking place this week, Smith said.

The courthouse's only walk-through scanner, located at the entrance to Department 3's courtroom, will be replaced with a newer piece of equipment today, Smith said.

That scanner, she said, was originally installed in the 1990s. She said it's staffed by the Lake County Sheriff's Office during trials and other court proceedings.

“It is at their discretion that they use it,” she said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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