Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Camera Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clerk asks for broader courthouse camera access for elections safety; commissioners weigh privacy and countywide policy
Summary
Randolph County's clerk asked the commissioners to grant camera access to her office to secure election equipment and improve staff safety; commissioners agreed some department heads should have access but deferred a countywide policy decision until the full board is present and a written policy can be developed.
Randolph County Clerk Jacqueline P told commissioners she needs access to courthouse security cameras to protect elections equipment, preserve chain of custody for records and improve employee safety in a high-traffic public area.
"We need the camera access especially for the elections to keep it safe and secure, identify any threats or tampering," Jacqueline P said. She recounted an incident in which a sheriff's deputy used camera footage to de-escalate an angry visitor and said camera access helps staff monitor entrances and preserve records.
Several commissioners expressed concern about granting system-wide access to every courthouse employee and emphasized a written policy. One commissioner said department heads and first deputies should have access, but the board should avoid “jeopardiz[ing] anybody” and must be careful about privacy and overuse of surveillance. The board asked staff to draft a countywide access policy and deferred final action until all three commissioners could meet.
Why it matters: camera access balances employee safety and evidence preservation for elections against privacy concerns and potential overuse of surveillance. The clerk framed the request around election security and chain-of-custody protections rather than routine monitoring of employees.
Next steps: staff will produce a policy recommendation for commissioners to consider when the full board is present.
