Section 1954. Judicial security

(a) The president judge of each judicial district shall establish a local standing court security committee. The duties of the local standing court security committee shall be to:

(1) make recommendations to the president judge on protocols, policies and procedures necessary to protect the public, court personnel and court facilities in the event of an emergency;

(2) communicate the approved protocols, policies and procedures identified in Rule of Judicial Administration No. 1954(A)(1) to all court employees;

(3) review and assess all security incident reports specified in Rule of Judicial Administration No. 1954(B) and recommend to the president judge appropriate actions; and

(4) develop and recommend to the president judge training programs for court employees on safety and security awareness.

Official Note

When forming local standing court security committees, president judges should consider a variety of court and county employees as well as public officials whose positions, experience and authority would benefit court security decisions. While not an exhaustive list, the president judge may consider: a member of the county executive branch, the district court administrator, a magisterial district judge, an individual responsible for county and court records, an individual responsible for courthouse security, a courthouse facility or risk manager and a member of county or local law enforcement.

(b) The president judge shall ensure that all reporting requirements of the Pennsylvania Judicial Incident Reporting System (‘‘PAJIRS’’) are completed by the district court administrator or his or her designee no later than the close of business on the day that any reportable action occurs.

(c) The president judge shall ensure the completion of court facility security assessments as identified in the Unified Judicial System Court Safety and Security Manual and as prescribed by the Court Administrator.

(d) The president judge shall establish court security protocols, policies and procedures to be implemented in the event of an emergency, including, but not limited to: fire, natural disaster, ‘‘white powder’’ or other human-made emergency or disaster, and escaped prisoner and hostage situations. The president judge shall ensure that all employees receive training on how and when to implement such protocols, policies and procedures. All policies and procedures identified in this Rule shall be reviewed and updated annually.

Comment

Rule 1954 addresses court security and formalizes the creation of local standing court security committees. These committees, which have existed in every judicial district since at least 2005, are appointed by the president judges. They make recommendations to the president judge on protocols, policies and procedures which should be implemented to protect the public, court personnel and court facilities in the event of an emergency, and the president judge must establish such security protocols, policies and procedures for the judicial district. In addition, each local standing court security committee is charged with reviewing court security incident reports collected through PAJIRS, which was implemented in 2005 for magisterial district courts and 2007 for common pleas courts, and making appropriate recommendations to the president judge based on those reports. Finally, Rule 1954 directs the president judges of Pennsylvania’s judicial districts to complete and annually update court facility security assessments.

It is hoped that a significant natural or man-made emergency never impacts Pennsylvania. However, through the framework provided in Rules 1950—1954, should an emergency occur, Pennsylvania Courts will be prepared to provide at least minimum services, including all essential court functions, both during and after the emergency, to better protect and serve Pennsylvania’s citizens.

The provisions of Rule 1954 are adopted December 28, 2009, effective immediately, 40 Pa.B. 218.