Policy Text
Court Security Division P age 1 of 3 3/10 (REV 6/11)
Procedures: Emergency Duress Alarms
The purpose of this Operations Or der is to outline policies and procedures in the event
an emergency duress alarm is activ ated at a Sacramento County S uperior Court facility.
I. Policy
A. All courtroom and public contac t points will have an emergen cy duress
alarm button located at their wo rkstation for convenient activa tion.
B. Officers responding to an emer gency duress alarm shall proce ed quickly,
but safely, to the location of the alarm.
II. Reasons for Activation o f an Emergency Duress Alarm
A. Situations that may constitut e an alarm activation include:
1. A physical fight in the imm ediate presence of the judicial o fficer,
court staff, or Sheriff’s employee.
2. A pending fight in which verbal threats or a loud verbal alt ercation
takes place in the presence of a judicial officer, court staff, or
Sheriff’s employee.
3. Displaying or br andishing a weapon.
4. A medical emergency.
III. Location of Emergency Duress Alarm Button
A. Although each facility is som ewhat different, nearly all cou rt facilities are
equipped with activation buttons in the following locations:
1. Courtroom
a. Judge’s bench b. Clerk’s desk
c. Bailiff’s desk
2. Judge’s Chambers and adj oining Clerk’s office
Court Security Division P age 2 of 3 3/10 (REV 6/11) 3. Public counters
4. Conference Rooms
a. Mediation Room
5. Holding area 6. Entry Screening points 7. Administrative offices
IV. Responding to an Emergency Duress Alarm
A. Employees shall become familiar with the physical layout of their
respective assigned facility to learn the various routes of res ponse.
B. The Court Control operator shall:
1. Note the location o f the alarm activation.
2. Notify facility officers via radio of the location of the al arm
activation.
3. Attempt to visually scan the location using facility surveil lance
cameras.
a. Record the incident as i t may be used as evidence.
4. Once officers are on scene, a scertain the need for additiona l
resources.
a. More officers b. Medical assistance
5. Cancel any further response, via radio, once advised by offi cers on
the scene.
C. Responding Officers
1. Include:
a. Roving officers and unassigned escort officers b. Bailiffs who are able to leave their courtrooms
c. A facility sergeant
2. Officers shall proceed to the location, but not “rush” in.
Court Security Division P age 3 of 3 3/10 (REV 6/11) a. Remember officer safety.
(1) It may be necessary to h ave the Court Control
operator call into the room and have an employee exit
the area to meet the responding officers.
3. Officers shall serve as back- up for the primary responding o fficers.
a. The primary officers are the first two officers who respond.
These officers are normally clo se by and are responsible for
that area; i.e., bailiffs and roving officers
b. Back-up officers will take positions of cover out of view of the
area alarm, but in close proximity.
(1) This should include pu blic and staff hallways
(2) Back-up officers shall notify the Court Control
operator of their position.
(3) Back-up officers shall dire ct the public away from the
area.
c. The primary officers will not ify Court Control upon arrival as
to the nature of the alarm and the need for more assistance.
V. Resetting the Alarm
A. At the conclusion of the ala rm response, the Court Control o perator or the
officer on the scene will reset the duress alarm.
VI. System Testing
A. All facilities shall test the Duress Alarms quarterly or at the discretion of
the Division Commander.