Public Building Security Found to Be Lax

Security at the county Hall of Administration “is flimsy” and those with business at local courthouses “are relatively unprotected,” according to a new grand jury report that calls on officials to beef up safety measures.

The study, released Thursday, comes at a time when both county supervisors and court managers have been focusing attention on how to prevent violence at major public buildings.

The Orange County Grand Jury recommended a variety of security improvements, from posting more guards to videotaped arraignments, which allow defendants to participate in court proceedings without leaving jail.

The panel concluded that at the Hall of Administration, where county supervisors work and hold meetings, a small law enforcement presence on the ground floor is not adequate.

By contrast, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors enjoys much stronger security measures, including leather chairs with bulletproof backs. Its Hall of Administration features metal detectors, glass partitions and a greater number of sheriff’s deputies than Orange County, the report found.

As for courthouses, the grand jury found that Orange County lags behind other surrounding counties in security measures. So far, two of the seven courthouses in Orange County are equipped with metal detectors.

Safety measures taken at the Central Justice Center have eased some concerns, deputy marshals there said.

In the past three weeks, close to 500 knives have been confiscated along with dozens of box cutters and corkscrews.

Among the grand jury’s biggest concerns is the transportation of inmates between the jail and courthouses. The report suggested an underground passageway between the Central Jail and Central Justice Center.