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32.

Meeting Date:	03/09/2015
Security Camera and duress buttons
Submitted for:	Cornell Mickley	Submitted By:	Cornell Mickley
Department:	Pre-Trial Services

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to relocate one existing security camera located at the Webb County Court House and purchase Two duress buttons including the removal of the camera and installation of the equipment at the Pre-Trial Services Department from Convergint Technologies (vendor #22548, DIR-SDD-1724), in the amount of $2,348.97. [Account #001-1205-6022 (Professional Services)] [Co-Sponsor by The Webb County Safety Committee]

Issue: Our department is located on the north end of the 5th floor of the justice center. The only way the public has access to our department is through the elevator located at the north end of the first floor. The public and our clients (most of them with criminal history and/or alcohol and drug issues and perhaps gang affiliations) are screened for an illegal weapons before they are allowed to have access to our department. After it is determined by the court police that the person is cleared of any illegal weapons or contraband, the person is granted access to the elevator to reach our department. There are no other security measures that will immediately alert court police in our department once the public or clients arrive in our lobby area, such as the cameras that are located throughout the building and are monitored by the court police at the central monitoring station located on the first floor. My staff has reported experiencing verbal altercations between clients visiting our department that required office personnel to separate the individuals and also clients becoming argumentive with bond officers.

Solution: The Webb County Safety Committee met on February 12, 2015, and the Webb County Pre-Trial Services Oversight Committee met on February 4, 2015, to discuss this issue and have unanimously supports and recommends to commissioners court to purchase and install the requested equipment that would be beneficial for the department and court police to safe guard the public, clients and staff from any altercations.

Result: Maintaining a safe environment for the public and staff.

Background:

None

Previous Court Action:

None

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	001-1205-6022
Funding Source:	Professional Service
Balance:	$13,746.00
Financial Impact:
None.

Attachments
Convergint