Humboldt supervisors direct plan for courthouse security after court funding cut

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6 directed county staff, the sheriff and the trial court to develop a new courthouse security plan after courts signaled they would stop funding entrance screening at the 4th and 5th Street courthouse entrances.

Sheriff Hansel said the county currently provides twelve deputies for trial-court security and that a longstanding MOU had the courts paying the majority of entrance-screening costs. "I currently do not have the budget to continue court security at the current staffing levels," he said, explaining the county would otherwise have to absorb several hundred thousand dollars a year.

Presiding Judge Kelly Neal told the board she had asked court financial staff about the status of an "entrance screening fund" and found that a separate fund no longer exists: "I can give you 83% of 0," she said, stressing the MOU and historical records do not reflect current funding realities and urging collaboration to avoid eliminating screening that protects vulnerable courthouse users.

County CFO Regina provided concrete numbers: trial-court security revenue from the state is about $1.4 million while payroll for bailiffs averages about $1.8 million, leaving the county already covering roughly $400,000 to sustain required bailiff coverage. Entrance screening is an additional expense the county has covered and could add roughly $200,000 now and possibly up to $400,000 if contract costs rise.

After public comment urging screening be retained, the board accepted staff recommendations (with one option removed) and directed staff to return with a security plan by May and to pursue advocacy with state representatives (Maguire and Rogers) and associations (CSAC, RCRC) for realistic state funding. Supervisors and staff agreed to prepare any necessary supplemental budget requests and to coordinate the sheriff, courts and CAO office on transition timing and options.

The board’s direction preserves flexibility: trial-court bailiff services will continue and the requested plan will describe how entrance screening might be modified, concentrated on the 2nd Floor court access, or phased out if no funding is available. The board also emphasized the need for staff training and operational updates tied to any change in screening practice.

Next steps: Sheriff's Office/CAO/Courts will submit an operational plan by May, with a budget adjustment if necessary; the board asked staff also to pursue state-level advocacy for sustained trial-court security funding.