New Security Plan Saves Juvenile Courtroom from Closure

The Lucas Valley juvenile courtroom escaped closure after Marin County judges accepted a new security plan last week, the Pacific Sun reports.

The plan, which includes installing cameras, a panic button, wire-mesh window screens, a new windowless rear door and a magnetometer to screen for weapons, came in the wake of several controversial proposals to tighten security.

Kim Turner, the executive officer of the Marin courts, developed a plan for juvenile hearings to be telelvised to judges in the Civic Center via video conferecning in order deal with increased gang violence.

After that plan was abandoned due to concerns over civil rights violations, Turner began a new plan that would place defendants and their lawyers in a glass enclosure during their hearings, according to the Bay Citizen.

When the “glass cage” proposal was met with harsh criticism from juvenile advocates and attorneys, Turner threw out that idea and told reporters in July that the county’s only juvenile courtroom would be closed.

Turner’s failed security plans cost the courts approximately $64,000, according to the Pacific Sun.

Judges accepted the new security plan, proposed by chief probation officer Michael Daly, in lieu of closing the facility last week.