Judges should be proved secure parking, preferably in an enclosed garage with direct access to the court’s private circulation system. Ideally, judicial parking should be located in an underground garage protected by a security gate with access controls. If underground parking is not possible, then provide parking at grade level within a secured compound. The gate should be monitored continually by CCTV from the Building Security Control center. An intercom should be available to allow those who use the parking area to communicate with staff in the Building Security Control room.
Once inside the parking area, judges and officials should be able to reach their offices by means of the private circulation system.
Regardless of the parking layout, the following are required to secure the parking area:
- Controlling access to and from secure parking.
- Monitoring access at the Building Security Control center, including areas controlled by access card or other electronic means of entry.
- Preventing unauthorized vehicles from being below the courthouse at any time. The control point for access to below-grade parking must be at, or prior to, the point where a vehicle is at the perimeter line of the courthouse.
- Providing direct access from the parking area to dedicated elevators and stairs with access to private circulation and judicial chambers.
- Ensuring parking stalls are barrier-free and conform to code and ADA requirements.
If secured parking is not feasible, provide unmarked reserved parking spaces located as near as possible to a secure building entrance. Patrol the area frequently. Do not use signage to identify who is parking in each space.
Prisoner transport vehicles should not use the same entrance as judicial and elected officials.