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Harney County to pilot state-funded courthouse entrance screening; orders, staffing and public notice planned
Summary
Circuit court staff outlined a June 1 pilot to install OJD-funded screening equipment (X-ray, magnetometer) in the Harney County Courthouse lobby; county to staff operations part-time and collect data to seek future funding for permanent staffing.
Harney County Court heard a detailed presentation March 18 about a state-funded pilot to install courthouse entrance screening equipment and related policies.
Samantha Dao, who led the briefing, said the 83rd Legislative Assembly provided one-time funding for equipment that the Oregon Judicial Department will purchase and own. The package includes an X-ray unit, a walkthrough magnetometer and handheld screening devices, but it does not include personnel. Dao said the equipment is being sent to counties that previously lacked screening and that Harney County will temporarily set the station in the courthouse lobby, funneling public entry to the east main door and using a secured ADA entrance for visitors who need it. "If guns are caught at the door or knives or weapons, we're going to track it so we can go back and say, 'Look, this works, this helps, this keeps our community safe,'" Dao said.
The court discussed operational details including a 45-minute orientation and training provided by the Marshall's Office, intercom/camera monitoring for mail and deliveries, duress alarms at the checkpoint, and signage and drop-off/lockbox options for prohibited items. The sheriff said the department can staff screening on a part-time, randomized schedule at first but noted personnel constraints. Randomized operation, the sheriff said, is intended to avoid predictable coverage windows.
Dao said the county will collect incident and turnback data throughout the year to support a future legislative request for funding permanent staffing. The court reviewed proposed presiding judge orders to formalize entrance protocols and to prohibit recording or photography in courthouse spaces without permission; those orders would be enforceable as contempt of court once issued.
The court also discussed public outreach: Dao proposed a joint press release and a frequently asked questions document for jurors and visitors, and the court suggested adding screening notice on jury summons. Staff estimated some small IT and camera-network costs (a basic county workstation and an Ethernet POE switch) that the project or county could cover. The court set steps: finalize presiding judge orders, receive equipment, train staff, post public notices and begin the pilot, aiming for a June 1 go-live pending logistics.
