Fulton County Courthouse Security Improvements Enhance Safety

Posted Friday, March 10, 2006

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Fulton County’s courts complex is safer today than at the time of the terrible shootings on March 11, 2005 according to Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Doris L. Downs. According to Judge Downs, The Sheriff, the Interdepartmental Security Committee, outside consultants, the Board of Commissioners, and many others worked cooperatively to strengthen security procedures and policies. Equipment was also updated to prevent another incident.

A long list of security enhancements has been completed and many others are in process or will be completed when funding becomes available. Everyone, except uniformed law enforcement personnel and their carried items, entering the courts’ complex, are thoroughly screened at the entrances. There are more and better-trained security personnel in the complex and procedures have been improved to best practices standards.

Additionally, defendants transported to the Courthouse by the Sheriff’s Office are guarded differently than a year ago. There are fewer defendants at the courthouse because many hearings are now handled at the Fulton County Jail or by video conferencing with the judge, defense, and prosecutors. “Visitors, jurors, employees, and people conducting business in the Fulton County Courthouse should feel, and in fact will be safer,” said Judge Downs.

For more information, contact Superior Court Administrator Judith Cramer at 404-730-4518.

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