Clay County adds security

Clay County Jail inmates will no longer have to walk outside to get to court.

The first three prisoners were transported to the courthouse Tuesday through the new tunnel, part of an expansion project expected to cost $7.4 million.

The new precaution is one of several steps that were taken to boost courthouse security.

"There was always a security concern when deputies were walking them (inmates) to the courthouse outside," Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist said.

From the jail, inmates will be escorted down a flight of stairs to the courthouse tunnel, down a narrow hallway to an elevator, and be brought up to either first- or second- floor courtrooms.

Inmates will then be placed in holding cells until their case is called in court.

Security cameras are visible throughout the tunnel, elevator and prisoner-holding areas. Inmates will not have contact with the public.

Courthouse visitors must enter through the building's east entrance and will have to go through a security checkpoint, said project architect Kerry Peuser.

"Before security was located on the third floor," he said. "Even before 9/11, we talked about security for the entire courthouse."

Previously, the courthouse had three public entrances.

The new security system cost the county about $225,000 and includes 30 cameras throughout the courthouse, law enforcement center and tunnel.

Deputies at the checkpoint can view each of the cameras from a touch-screen computer system.

"They can open locked doors and activate any camera at the touch of the screen," Peuser said.

Unlike Cass County, cell phones won't be allowed inside.

Cell phones also are banned in the Quentin N. Burdick United States Courthouse in Fargo.

Like the other two courthouses, people entering the Clay County Courthouse must walk through a metal detector.

Right now, two full-time deputies and part-time help are responsible for courthouse security, Bergquist said.

Bergquist would like the county to hire two more full-time employees to meet a requirement set by judges to provide security in each courtroom when court is in session.

The Sheriff's Department must also provide additional security during jury trials.

The two ground-level courtrooms were used for the first time this week. A third courtroom will be ready for use Thursday and a fourth courtroom should be ready early next week, Peuser said.

The entire project should be completed by Dec. 1, he said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Baird at (701) 241-5535