Ohio Supreme Court Recommends Safety Upgrades for Cuyahoga Justice Center

The Plain Dealer has reported on Ohio Supreme Court recommendations for significant safety upgrades at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center. The Justice Center, which is next to the jail, houses most of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judges and their courtrooms, as well as Cleveland Municipal Court. The paper suggests the enhancements will cost millions of dollars for additional deputies, screening equipment, locks, security cameras, and other new procedures. Locally, Common Pleas Judge John Russo chairs an ad hoc court security committee that is reviewing the recommendations. The same Ohio Supreme Court representatives who visited the Justice Center over the summer also visited the County Courthouse (which houses Cuyahoga's domestic relations, probate and appellate court judges and courtrooms), but we have not yet seen the report to determine whether it makes any recommendations for the Courthouse. See our prior post on the site visit, where we also provided a link to the current Courthouse Security Policy and Procedures Plan.