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Richland County judge urges upgrades after courtroom security, alarm and audiovisual gaps disrupt proceedings
Summary
The Richland County circuit court judge told the Public Safety Standing Committee the courthouse still has security and technical gaps — including a malfunctioning fire alarm, lack of audio/Zoom in a small courtroom and an incident that delayed a homicide trial — and urged the board to fund phased improvements.
The Richland County circuit court judge told the Public Safety Standing Committee on June 6 that courtroom security and building systems still need upgrades to avoid disruptions and protect court participants.
The judge said the county has made small improvements but that more work is required, pressing the committee to prioritize an audio system and Zoom capability for the small courtroom and to address courthouse-wide security and alarm reliability. “We need installation of an audio system in [the small courtroom],” the judge said, adding the room lacks amplification and Zoom even though visiting judges increasingly rely on remote connectivity.
Why it matters: courtrooms regularly host vulnerable populations, juries, victims and witnesses; the judge said last-minute calendar changes and the need to bring in out-of-county judges make reliable audio and remote access essential to avoid delays.
Committee discussion and details: the judge described several operational problems the upgrades would address: difficulty hearing proceedings in the small courtroom because of radiators, the need for Zoom so out-of-county judges can appear remotely, and the potential for last-minute schedule changes that require immediate security and technical support. He said a 2023 quote for the small courtroom install was $63,900 and that updated quotes are likely higher; staff said the completed project could approach $70,000 once cabling and construction are included.
Separately, the judge and staff reviewed a recent alarm failure. A faulty smoke sensor in a jail cell repeatedly triggered a visual strobe but did not sound an audible alarm; Johnson Controls was called to reprogram and repair the system. “We had a bad smoke sensor in 1 of the cell lines in the jail. It triggered the system,” the judge said, noting the company will reprogram the system so each sensor is identifiable and the county will keep spare sensors on hand.
The judge also described an unusual courtroom disruption during a homicide trial when a bat flew in the gallery, briefly halting proceedings. Facility staff used an improvised “bat extraction” device to remove the animal and resume the trial. The judge said the episode underscored the age and limitations of the facility and reinforced the need for longer-term capital improvements.
Committee next steps and funding: committee members and staff discussed capital-improvement budgeting options, including rolling funds forward across fiscal years so a larger project can be funded in stages. County staff confirmed some capital-improvement funds can roll forward and encouraged using the capital-improvement process to step projects over several years if needed.
The committee noted the courthouse-security committee meets quarterly; members were reminded of a June 16 meeting to continue planning security measures, training, and potential upgrades.
