Within six months, visitors to the Justice Center will funnel through a single, guarded entrance with a metal and bag detection system as county leaders act on a judge’s order to add safeguards.
The changes probably won’t end there. An N.C. Sheriff’s Association consultant made 11 additional recommendations after inspecting the 20-year-old building, some that visitors would notice and others they might not. Among the most visible: no public parking in front of the building.
Superior Court Judge Brad Letts, this judicial district’s senior resident judge, originally ordered the county meet a Jan. 1 deadline. He granted more time after two new commissioners and a sheriff were elected in November. County leaders plan to meet with Letts on Jan. 20 during an annual retreat.
Sheriff Chip Hall says turning paper plans into reality means hiring personnel. He wants to reassign an existing officer to oversee court and courtroom security; hire two new deputies; increase hours of a bailiff from 80 percent to 100 percent; and create a detention officer position.
