Rural Courts Commission reviews county courts
Thursday, September 4, 2008 7:42 AM EDT

By Pete Lawson

Times Staff

Members of the North Carolina Rural Courts Commission and Swain County officials concerned with courts operations took a day-long look at facilities and resources July 31.

The Rural Courts Commission, comprised of 15 members that currently includes Sen. John Snow of Murphy, reviews county court facilities and issues recommendations for improvement.

In a report to the county in late August, the commission commended Swain County for construction of its new Law Enforcement Center, and County Manager Kevin King's planning for additional courtroom space and for installation of security cameras in the courthouse.

Among its "where we go from here" recommendations, the RCC advises the county:

€ To create a Courthouse Facilities and Security Committee) "to formalize your (existing) good communications practices." The committee should include all courthouse stakeholders including County Manager, one or more County Commissioners, Register of Deeds, Tax Collector, Senior Resident Judge, Chief District Court Judge, Clerk of Superior Court, Chief Probation Officer, one or more attorneys, County Building Inspector, Fire Marshal and anyone else appropriate. The committee should address long- and short-term courthouse challenges including brick and mortar as well as procedural issues.

€ Designate a single point of entrance to the courthouse and move the metal detector to that location and staff it with sworn officers during business hours.

€ Lock all rooms for court when not in use and conduct regular sweeps of these rooms for hidden weapons and contraband. The courthouse should be locked when not in use

€ Hire a pest control professional to identify and plug access holes used by bats infesting the large courtroom.

€ Develop a plan to implement video first appearances from the new detention center to save money and improve security.

€ Consider subscribing to an Internet-based legal reference service and canceling subscriptions to print volumes to save money and open up space.

€ Ask the Jury Commission to reconcile voter registration and Division of Motor Vehicle addresses with Postal Service mailing addresses for mailing juror summonses, striking incorrect entries.

o Swain County officials discuss with their General Assembly members the lack of drug and alcohol assessment and counseling services available locally and problems with involuntary commitments. "Far western North Carolina is poorly served for these needs and the recent ‘reform' of mental heath has not helped."

o Explore the use of video for diagnostic purposes for those referred for possible involuntary commitments and also for drug and alcohol assessments. "If video appearances can be used, a great deal of money can be saved and the availability of officers in the county can be increased."

The RCC report thanks Sheriff Curtis Cochran, Clerk of Superior Court Helen C. Styles, County Manager Kevin King, Chief Probation Officer Glenn Weeks, Assistant Clerk of Court Hester Sitton and Interpreter Dorie Villareal Greene for their time spent in the July 31 meetings.

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