Policy Text
Court Security Division 1 of 8 5/02 (REV 6/11)
Critical Incidents: Public/Staff Evacuation
The purpose of this Operations Or der is to explain the public/s taff evacuation procedure
to use at all Sacramento Count y Superior Court facilities.
I. Policy
Certain emergency circumstances o r hazardous events may pose an imminent threat to
the health and/or safety of t he public and/or court staff, and may necessitate the partial
or full evacuation of a courthous e facility in a safe and timel y manner. A rapid and
efficient evacuation is the key to minimizing injury and death.
II. Requirements to Ini tiate an Evacuation
A. The following requirements sha ll be met before initiating an evacuation:
1. There is an imminent hazard tha t threatens staff and/or visito rs.
2. The Commander, Assistant Comm ander, Satellite Facilities
Commander, or a facility sergean t has authorized the evacuation .
3. The Presiding Judge will be advised and cons ulted when possibl e
and practical prior to initiating the evacuation.
B. The evacuation shall be conduc ted in accordance with the fac ility
Emergency Action Plan.
1. Court Security Division Operations Order 5/01
III. General Procedure for Evacuation
A. Use the facility's public address system and/or officers as signed to each
floor to advise the building' s occupants of the need to leave the facility.
1. The advisement will direct a ll persons as to what method and /or
exit route to take.
1. Avoid using elevators i f it is a fire emergency.
B. Non-uniformed staff and visi tors shall be evacuated first.
C. The Court Control operators shall:
Court Security Division 2 of 8 5/02 (REV 6/11) 1. Dispatch resources needed for the incident:
a. Assignment of facility offi cers following the direction of the
facility supervisor.
b. Outside agency resources and/or assistance. 2. Monitor facility cameras fo r hazards and other emergencies not yet
reported.
3. Operate security doors to f acilitate more efficient egress through
the facility.
4. Maintain log of events. D. Facility Exit Points
1. Unless it is unsafe to do so , all members of the public and court
staff leaving the facility shoul d be directed to exit through t he
normal main exit doors.
a. If it is necessary to exit the facility from the stairwell d oors, it
will be necessary to post officers at each door.
(1) This procedure will ensu re that outside persons who
have not been cleared do not enter the facility and
breach security.
III. Public/Staff Evacuation Routes
A. Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse
1. During an evacuation, the pub lic elevators will be locked-of f.
Typically, assuming it is safe to do so, only those persons wit h
mobility issues will be allowed to use the public elevators.
2. Sixth through Third Floors a. Fire stairwells located on the south and north end of the
facility.
b. If the north/south fire s tairwells are unavailable:
(1) Center security stairwell.
3. Second Floor a. Center public staircase located along east wall.
b. Fire stairwells located on the south and north end of the
facility.
Court Security Division 3 of 8 5/02 (REV 6/11) 4. First Floor
a. Public entrances/exits loc ated on the east and/or west side s
of the facility in the central portion of the facility on the east
wall and west wall.
b. Fire stairwell exit doors lo cated on the south and north en d
of the facility.
5. Basement a. Up the fire stairwells locat ed on the south and north end o f
the facility.
b. Up the vehicle driveways located in the southwest and
northwest portion of the basemen t exiting onto Eighth Street.
c. Up the security staircase l ocated in the center of the faci lity.
B. Lorenzo E. Patino Hall of Justice (Main Jail)
1. First Floor
a. Public
(1) Public entrance/exit loc ated in the central portion of
the jail along t he south wall.
(2) Emergency exit located near Department 63 in the
southeast corner of the facility.
b. Court Staff
(1) Public entrance/exit loc ated in the central portion of
the jail along t he south wall.
(2) Emergency exit located near Department 63 in the
southeast corner of the facility.
(3) Through the security hallway and out the east
emergency door near the garage vehicle exit roll-up
door.
2. Basement
a. Court Staff
(1) Up the security stair case between Departments 60
and 61 and Departments 62 and 63 through the
courtrooms to the public exits.
Court Security Division 4 of 8 5/02 (REV 6/11) (2) Up the security stairca se located in the northeast
portion of the court holding area out to the fenced,
bark area.
(3) If safe, up the securi ty elevators to the parking
garage.
(4) If safe, up the public/staff elevators located just west
of Court Control to the first floor.
C. William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse
1. Third and Second Floors
a. Public
(1) Public elev