Montgomery County judges, court managers and the sheriff’s office briefed the County Council’s Public Safety Work Session on Oct. 27 about progress and gaps in courthouse security and sheriff staffing.

The circuit court is in the middle of a multi‑phase project to secure judicial elevators and perimeter access, Tim Sheridan, Montgomery County Circuit Court administrator, told the committee. "The secure elevator is now secured from top to bottom via card and we've built 2 security doors at the Terrace Level and Third Floor Level and that seems to be working," Sheridan said, and added the court is "waiting the design phase for phase 2" to extend security to the remaining floors. He said the project is working from the original capital improvement request but that updated designs and electronic controls have increased costs and that final estimates are not yet complete.

The administrative judge for the circuit court described situations that make the upgrades urgent. The judge said on multiple occasions staff and judges have had to share elevators with parties and families after hearings, creating uncomfortable and potentially unsafe encounters; in one recent example a family became "extremely upset" and action had to be taken, the judge said.

Sheriff Maxwell We told the committee he commissioned a third‑party staffing study (PFM) this year and that study recommended substantial increases in both sworn and non‑sworn positions. "It recommended significant increases in both our sworn and non sworn personnel," the sheriff said. He added the PFM analysis did not account for the higher staffing minimums recommended by the state task force, which would raise required staffing further.

On current staffing levels, the sheriff reported roughly "around 30, 32" vacancies, while noting seven recruits are currently in the academy and expected to graduate in December. "We have a solid 7 deputy sheriff candidates in the current recruit class," he said, and said a January recruit class is planned. The sheriff said his office is also hiring non‑sworn professionals to handle duties that previously fell to deputies — citing domestic‑violence services and eviction support — and that those hires, plus intensified recruiting campaigns funded by grants, have improved the applicant pool.

Councilmembers pressed on alternatives to sworn deputies for some courtroom functions. The sheriff said the office has used contract security for screening and could consider special police officers or other court security officer (CSO) models in future, but cautioned any change must be coordinated with labor representatives and would require time and planning.

Judicial and sheriff staff discussed other security issues the packet and state task force flagged: secure public spaces, cameras and ballistic protection, and the need to improve internal courtroom layouts (line of sight and ADA compliance) in older courtrooms. Sheridan and court staff said the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) will help cover certain electronics (badge readers and controls) but that door hardware and design complexity have increased the project’s cost and lead times.

Council members asked about the handling and reporting of extreme risk protective orders (ERPOs). The sheriff described the sheriff’s office role in tracking firearms surrendered under court orders and said aggregated ERPO counts could be provided, subject to data‑suppression rules to protect confidentiality.

There were no formal votes taken at the work session. Committee members and staff agreed the next steps include finishing design work for the elevator project, returning with updated cost estimates for CIP consideration, continuing recruitment and training efforts, and pursuing non‑sworn hires to relieve courtroom staffing pressures.

Ending: Officials said equipment lead times and design costs mean finishing the North Tower security work will take more months and likely additional CIP funds; recruiting and planned academy classes make incremental staffing gains but vacancies remain significant.