U.S. Courts Design Guide
Security
The security and alarm systems for the Clerk's Office must function as an integral
part of the security and alarm systems for the total court facility. Evidence and
financial vaults must be equipped with a keypad shunt, vault door contacts, heat
sensors, motion detector, and duress alarm device connected to the U.S. Marshals
Service (USMS) Command and Control Center.
Security and alarm systems at public counter stations, including cashier stations, the
clerk's private office, and financial and evidence vaults must be provided. In addition,
the clerk's private office, as well as the staff side of the public counter, secure storage,
and other selected office areas, must be equipped with duress alarm devices. The
alarms must be connected to the USMS Command and Control Center.
Public access to the restricted office area is controlled with an electric lock operated at
the public counter workstation. Entrances to the Clerk's Office suite, Clerk of the
Court and manager offices, computer room, vendor copying service, and enclosed
storage must have key locks. Employee access from public circulation is controlled by
keylock or electronic access control. Access from the Clerk's Office to restricted
circulation, if provided, is controlled by keylock or electronic access control. Single-
fixture toilets must have privacy locks. Refer to Facilities Standards for the Public
Buildings Service for additional security criteria.
Clerk's Offices located in a facility where weapons screening is not conducted at the
entry must have a public counter (including the cashier's station) with a ballistic-
resistant (UL Standard 752, Level III) transaction window. In addition, the counter
wall must have ballistic-resistant surfaces from floor to ceiling within ten feet left and
right of the window.
The public counter area must be acoustically separate from adjacent open work areas.
Refer to Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service for acoustical
requirements.
9-12
12/19/97
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