Fewer guns, knives passing through Franklin Co. Courthouse
FRANKLIN COUNTY -- KEPR discovered metal detectors have been a big help at keeping danger out of the Franklin County Court.
"You always see what can happen. There's just a lot of crazy people out there."
Jaimie Dilts has done absolutely nothing wrong. She's not at the Franklin County Court for an arraignment, but to get fingerprinted to be a daycare worker. Like a lot us, this mother of two always has safety on her mind, especially in a place like the courthouse.
"When you go to places where they handle people who are not that great, it's nice to know you don't have to worry about that," she tells Action News.
Metal detectors now scan every single thing that gets carried into the courthouse. Each beep, each pat down, each set of eyes has been a huge success at keeping folks safer. Since the metal detectors were added in a major security overhaul four years ago, the number of weapons confiscated in Franklin County has gone way down, from 700 in January of '08 to just 170 this past December.
Enforcement seems to be the key. With security front and center, county workers say most people know to leave their weapons at home.
As long as they're legal, most items will be given back when people leave the courthouse, but beyond the security line, they're banned altogether.
"whether you're in a trial or just here to take care of minor business, it's a little more comforting," Dilts says.
No system is truly perfect, but in Franklin County at least, spending your money for more security has made a difference in extra safety.
Knives are the most common weapons confiscated at the courthouse.
Only a handful of cases involve guns.
"You always see what can happen. There's just a lot of crazy people out there."
Jaimie Dilts has done absolutely nothing wrong. She's not at the Franklin County Court for an arraignment, but to get fingerprinted to be a daycare worker. Like a lot us, this mother of two always has safety on her mind, especially in a place like the courthouse.
"When you go to places where they handle people who are not that great, it's nice to know you don't have to worry about that," she tells Action News.
Metal detectors now scan every single thing that gets carried into the courthouse. Each beep, each pat down, each set of eyes has been a huge success at keeping folks safer. Since the metal detectors were added in a major security overhaul four years ago, the number of weapons confiscated in Franklin County has gone way down, from 700 in January of '08 to just 170 this past December.
Enforcement seems to be the key. With security front and center, county workers say most people know to leave their weapons at home.
As long as they're legal, most items will be given back when people leave the courthouse, but beyond the security line, they're banned altogether.
"whether you're in a trial or just here to take care of minor business, it's a little more comforting," Dilts says.
No system is truly perfect, but in Franklin County at least, spending your money for more security has made a difference in extra safety.
Knives are the most common weapons confiscated at the courthouse.
Only a handful of cases involve guns.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting