LAKEPORT – New security measures at the county's main courthouse will begin next week.

Kip Rodda, assistant executive officer of Lake County Superior Court, reported that Presiding Judge Arthur Mann signed a court order on Wednesday authorizing the court to implement airport-type security screening at the Lakeport courthouse on N. Forbes St.

Beginning Wednesday, May 28, all individuals entering the courthouse will have their bags and briefcases screened by an X-ray machine, said Rodda.

Additionally, they will have to walk through a magnetometer to enter the facility, he said. For those unable to walk through the magnetometer there will be alternative screening methods.

The Board of Supervisors approved installing the equipment at the Lakeport courthouse on Feb. 19, as Lake County News has reported. The Superior Court began screenings at the Clearlake court last summer.

The cost to equip both facilities – including cameras and access systems/card readers – was about $242,000, according to Malcolm Franklin, senior emergency response and security manager for the state's Administrative Office of the Courts.

There also was a one-time setup cost of more than $38,000 for the screening equipment, according to an April report from Superior Court Executive Officer Mary Smith.

Those costs, as well as annual expenses of about $211,000 for security personnel and sheriff's staff, were funded by the court which, in turn, is funded by the state, according to previous statements by court officials.

A 2006 study had found Lake County's two court facilities to be among 94 facilities in 22 counties that did not have perimeter security, court officials reported. As a result, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put aside money to help counties equip the unsecured facilities.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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