D04 2019-01J: LAO Establishment of Security Committee for Law and Courts Building

This Administrative Order is issued in accordance with Administrative Order 2019-1. The purpose of this Order is to establish a Security Committee for the Cass County Law & Courts Building.

IT IS ORDERED:

1. At the direction of the Chief Judge, a security committee for the Cass County Law & Courts Building is established effective May 1, 2019. The Chairperson of the committee is the Chief Judge and in the Chief Judge's absence, the Chief Judge's designee.
2. Members of the security committee shall include the following (not their designees):
   1. Judges from all three Courts (which includes the Chief Judge)
      1. Circuit Court Judge
      2. District Court Judge
      3. Probate/Family Court Judge
   2. Cass County ("funding unit")
      1. Chair of the Board of Commissioners
      2. County Administrator
      3. IT Director
   3. Office of the Sheriff
      1. Sheriff
      2. Undersheriff
      3. Head of Security at the Cass County Law & Courts Building
   4. Local law enforcement
      1. Chief, Village of Cassopolis
   5. Clerk of the Court
      1. Clerk
      2. File Room Supervisor
   6. Court Administration
      1. Court Administrator for the Circuit/Family/Probate Courts
      2. District Court Administrator 
   7. Emergency Management
      1. Director of Emergency Management 
   8. Prosecutor's Office
      1. Prosecutor
      2. Chief Deputy Prosecutor
   9. Any other representatives deemed necessary by the Chief Judge. 
3. The security committee shall:
   1. Develop and promote security policies and procedures regarding court security and emergency management;
   2. Establish goals and objectives specific to improving physical security, emergency preparedness, and employee training;
   3. Review all security incidents in the Cass County Law & Courts Building and take appropriate corrective measures to mitigate and/or eliminate any security vulnerabilities to prevent future reoccurrences. 
4. The Chairperson of the committee shall:
   1. Facilitate communication, coordination, and decision making among members (e.g. facility stakeholders) on policies and procedures affecting security and emergency management in the Cass County Law & Courts Buidling;
   2. Seek member advice and input on goals, objectives, priorities, and issues involving security and emergency management in the Cass County Law & Courts Building; 
   3. Work in consultation with local law enforcement and emergency management professionals. The SCAO regional administrator will be kept apprised of meeting times and locations to be consulted as necessary.
5. Submit a report to the SCAO regional administrator by March 31, 2020, and an updated report by March 31st of every year thereafter concerning the actions taken by the committee under paragraph 3. The report shall list the members of the committee. The report should also describe the court's current security policies and procedures, describe the goals and objectives established by the committee to improve security of the Cass County Law & Courts Building, and include a summary of any Cass County Law & Courts Building security incidents occurring during the reporting period and related corrective measures taken by the court. 
6. The security committee shall meet as arranged by the Chief Judge or upon the request of a stakeholder on this committee with meetings occurring not less than four (4) times per calendar year.
7. Effective date: May 1, 2019

Find the fully executed version here.