H.R. 4602: Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act

This bill, known as the Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act, aims to enhance the safety and security of judges and court staff by amending the State Justice Institute Act of 1984. The key components of the bill include:

Funding for Security Initiatives

The bill proposes that the State Justice Institute be authorized to provide financial assistance to eligible organizations. These organizations must be national nonprofits with experience in judicial security and safety, courthouse design, and understanding the challenges faced by different types of courts.

Establishment of Judicial Threat Intelligence and Resource Centers

One of the main features of the bill is the establishment of State judicial threat intelligence and resource centers. These centers will be tasked with:

• Providing technical assistance and training related to judicial security, which includes:
• Safety education for judges and local law enforcement.
• Creating resources and guidelines for ensuring judicial security.
• Conducting physical security assessments for courts and judicial officers.
• Proactively monitoring threats to the safety of judges and court staff.
• Coordinating with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to address and mitigate these threats.
• Developing standardized practices for incident reporting and threat evaluation in collaboration with law enforcement.
• Creating a national database to report, track, and share information about threats to judicial personnel.
• Conducting research to identify best practices for ensuring judicial security.

Reporting Requirements

The bill also mandates that the State Justice Institute submit an annual report to both chambers of Congress. This report will detail the number of threats against judges and court staff, as well as provide an analysis of the types of threats and their severity. This reporting requirement aims to ensure transparency and track the effectiveness of the measures put in place to protect the judiciary.

Conclusion

The Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act is designed to enhance the security measures surrounding the judicial system at the state and local levels by providing necessary resources and a structured response to threats against judicial officers.

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