S. 2379: 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 security of judges and court staff at the state and local levels. It proposes the following key actions:

Amendments to the State Justice Institute Act

The bill seeks to amend the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to expand the scope of the Institute’s responsibilities. It would allow the State Justice Institute to provide support to specific types of organizations, particularly national nonprofit organizations that focus on judicial security and safety. These organizations must have:

• Expertise in providing technical assistance and training on judicial security.
• Experience in courthouse design and courthouse security standards.
• An understanding of state judicial operations.
• An established track record working with various court systems.

Establishment of Judicial Threat Intelligence Centers

The bill proposes the creation of State judicial threat intelligence and resource centers that would focus on improving judicial security. These centers would:

• Provide technical assistance and training on judicial security.
• Offer safety education and training for judges, court staff, and local law enforcement.
• Create resources and guides related to judicial security.
• Conduct physical security assessments for courts and related facilities.
• Monitor threats to the safety of judges and court staff.
• Coordinate with various law enforcement agencies to address safety threats.
• Develop incident reporting and threat evaluation practices for local courts.
• Create a national database for reporting and tracking threats to judicial officers and court staff.
• Conduct research to identify and promote best practices in judicial security.

Reporting Requirements

The State Justice Institute would be required to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of threats against state and local judiciary members and court staff. This report would include a breakdown of the types of threats and their severity.

Relevant Companies

None found