For architects and courthouse planners, designing a courthouse's central detention area, sometimes called the central lockup, is a specialized aspect of the overall planning for a courthouse. This vital task demands the careful consideration of security, adjacencies, separation of circulation, and...

As a former law enforcement officer turned security specialist, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of securing entrances as the front line of defense. With experience in courthouses, schools, and government buildings, I recognize that a secure entrance is essential to ensuring the safety of...

Everything from gun violence in schools to protests leading to riots to cybersecurity threats bombard our news feeds on social media and take up residence in the back of our minds (or sometimes it is front and center) as we face the world daily. 

Courthouses are places where legal proceedings occur, often involving emotionally charged participants. Having a well-designed security screening area is crucial to ensure the safety of everyone inside the courthouse, including judges, lawyers, jurors, witnesses, and the public. 

Courthouses serve as a proud architectural landmark. However, because of the sensitive nature of the work that occurs in these landmark buildings, as well as a rise in civil unrest and anti-government sentiment sweeping the nation, courthouses are faced with unique security threats. Court staff are...