IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL DIVISION
IN RE: IMPLEMENTATION OF :
RECOMMENDATIONS OF :
PENNSYLVANIA STATE :
POLICE RISK AND :
VULNERABILITY :
ASSESSMENT TEAM :
(BUILDING ACCESS AND :
WEAPON SCREENING) :
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2006-11
AND NOW, this day of September, 2006, based upon the recommendations of the
Pennsylvania State Police, Domestic Security Office, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Team, it
is hereby ordered that the Sheriff of Northampton County shall implement the following building
access and weapon screening procedures at the Northampton County Courthouse complex:
1. The Sheriff shall issue identification cards to public officials and
county employees, who shall enter the Courthouse complex
through either the Employee Entrance on the east side of the
courthouse complex or the Rotunda Entrance. The Sheriff
shall design and implement a random weapon screening
procedure for public officials and county employees.
2. All other persons, including attorneys not employed by the county
and title searchers, shall enter the courthouse complex through
the Rotunda Entrance where they shall pass through a weapon
screening procedure designed and implemented by the Sheriff.
3. Entrance and departure through all doors other than the Rotunda
Entrance and the Employee Entrance shall be prohibited.
4. Persons with physical disabilities may enter the courthouse
complex through either the Employee Entrance or the Rotunda
Entrance as they choose. They shall be subject to the same
weapon screening procedure as other members of the public.
5. The Sheriff shall design and implement a procedure whereby
persons making deliveries through the loading dock communicate
with the Sheriff’s control center to gain access. The Sheriff
shall design and implement a weapon screening procedure for
delivery persons and for the items which they deliver.
6. Appropriate security personnel shall be present from 7:00 A.M. to
11:00 P.M. daily to control access to the courthouse complex
and to screen for weapons for visitors during other than regular
business hours. Monitoring of the complex after 11:00 P.M. shall
be performed at the Northampton County Prison control center
or by on-duty security personnel as the County Executive shall
determine. Only public officials, county employees, and members
of the public attending governmental meetings shall be permitted
in the Courthouse complex at times other than regular business
hours.
7. The County Executive or the President of County Council may
direct that members of the public attending governmental
meetings in the courthouse complex after regular business hours
shall enter through the Employee Entrance.
8. This Order is effective immediately.
BY THE COURT:
________________________
ROBERT A. FREEDBERG, P. J.