Security updates are coming to the Circuit Court of Carroll County in Westminster.
The Board of Carroll County Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a $32,000 contract with Lyons Construction Co. Inc., in Hampstead, for upgrades that include moving an interior wall that will be reinforced with bulletproof transaction windows to allow for the relocation of desks and equipment.
The cost will be reimbursed entirely by the state through a 2025 Courthouse Security Funding grant.
The Circuit Court for Carroll County is one of eight circuit courts in Maryland. The courthouse is located at 55 N. Court St., in Westminster.
Security upgrades have been ongoing in the county’s courthouses.
In October, commissioners approved $86,679.72 in upgrades to the Carroll County Courthouse Annex in Westminster. The funding came in the form of a grant from the Maryland’s Administrative Office of the Courts, Maryland’s central support agency for the state’s judicial branch.
Fred Hecker, administrative judge for the Carroll County Circuit Court, said at the time that in light of the October 2023 shooting death of Washington County Circuit Judge Andrew Wilkinson, the state has been assessing security in courthouses across Maryland.
The 2025 Courthouse Security Funding and Acceptance of Award paid for six security upgrades:
- Main door hardware replacement and upgrades
- Hallway cameras outside of judges’ chambers
- Installation of controlled access for Courtroom 2’s jury deliberation room
- Installation of 10 panic buttons
- Installation of controlled access for three judges’ doors
- Relocation of wall and glass in the clerk’s office
In October 2023, commissioners approved a $25,071.16 grant application to the Administrative Office of the Courts to pay for one handheld radio system and two panic buttons to be used in the annex’s wedding ceremony room in the event of an emergency. This was intended to allow the bailiffs to better communicate with each other.
The Courthouse Annex is at 55 N. Court St., and houses five circuit courtrooms, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Register of Wills, the Clerk’s Office and the Land Records & Licensing Department.
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