Security
Ideas Away From the Courthouse for Judges, Spouses, and Family
Incidents of attempted harm
to judges or their family members away from the courthouse are probably
rare. Nonetheless, those incidents have been serious enough and have
received enough publicity to warrant taking security precautions. It
is also worthwhile to develop attitudes and activities that minimize
concern for personal safety.
Stories of families that will not be intimidated by threats are encouraging.
Some say that the one thing they would emphasize is the importance of
good communications in the family generally. If a problem should arise
for anyone, they will be able to bring it up because good communication
lines are open. Judges and their families can take safety precautions,
but still thoroughly enjoy their lives. Here is an area where considering
the bigger picture and investing time to make other areas of public
family life manageable can ease security challenges.
National Sheriff’s
Association Trainer Edward Keyton and California Highway Patrol Sargeant
Stephen W. Weston encourage judges to learn all they can about the patterns
of individuals who have harmed public figures or buildings. Typically
these persons had lost everything that matters to them. Losing their
dignity was the last straw. A respectful attitude on the part of a judge
who is deciding child custody or a criminal sentence can prevent many
of the threats that are made to judges and their families.
National Center for
State Courts former President Roger Warren points to an excellent booklet produced
for federal courts by the U.S.Department of Justice U.S. Marshals Service,
the Personal Security Handbook: How You and Your Family Can Minimize
Risks to Personal Safety. We quote a few lines:
"The
potential danger associated with the life of a public official…is
an unpleasant topic of conversation among family and friends. But avoiding
the subject does not lessen the potential for harm.”
“Let’s put this matter of ‘threats’ in perspective.
The potential for violence to you or your family is an important subject.
When the rare incidents of assaults on public officials or attempts
at intimidation do occur, they attract tremendous attention from the
news media and, as a result, violence in one form or another seems to
be everywhere. It is not! Nevertheless, you need to be informed, and
to take sensible precautions-like discussing the matter with your family
members.”
“As a practical matter, you are hundreds of times more likely to
be injured from a fall at home or on the tennis court or to be killed
in an automobile accident than to ever be involved in a work-related
assault or hostage situation. The chances of you or your family becoming
victims of that sort are very slight—and you can reduce the risk
even further.”
Risks truly can be reduced by devising a security plan unique to one's
own family. The suggestions that follow would be helpful to anyone,
not just to people in public life. Before entering public life, many
new judges and their families are already following several of the precautions
listed. JFI is pleased to share here the security strategies of those
who are managing to avoid problems and/or stay calm in crises. It may
not be easy to decide what security precautions to take or what attitudes
to adopt that will help everyone in the family. This list can help each
judicial family identify some ways of approaching a custom-tailored
security plan.
The Judicial Family Institute has compiled home security ideas from
various sources. Many measures apply to any families, not just judges’
families. Countless judges and their family members have shared the
ideas listed below. They also report using many of the techniques advocated
by experts in law enforcement. Indiana State Police Officers have suggested
many ideas for safety at home and while traveling. Their suggestions
are interwoven in the list below. Additional suggestions from the National
Judicial College are also included.
It is beneficial to view your own security plan with the perspective
suggested below by former Indiana Judges’ Association President
Paul Mathias in his analogy to traffic safety rules. The goal is preparation,
not paranoia.
Some of the measures or attitudes shared below may not be appropriate
in your community or circumstances, but are shared for your consideration.