Yakima County grapples with courtroom security changes
YAKIMA, Wash. -- KIMA learned security changes are coming to Yakima County Courtrooms. It's one more result of a cash-strapped criminal justice system.
The Department of Corrections said it can no longer provide two officers per courtroom for security.
It can now only have one to watch over inmates. That would leave the judge and public unprotected.
It's a duty originally handled by the Yakima Sheriff's Office.
The DOC stepped in to help out strapped deputies but now it's back to the Sheriff's Office to figure out how to provide those guards.
KIMA asked Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin, "Are you going to be pulling people off the streets to handle these jobs?"
"I can't," Irwin said. "We don't have enough people on the street as it is. I don't have enough investigators."
The Sheriff said his department has until next month to have the security changes taken care of.
The Jail director, court administrator and sheriff are meeting to work out a plan.
The Department of Corrections said it can no longer provide two officers per courtroom for security.
It can now only have one to watch over inmates. That would leave the judge and public unprotected.
It's a duty originally handled by the Yakima Sheriff's Office.
The DOC stepped in to help out strapped deputies but now it's back to the Sheriff's Office to figure out how to provide those guards.
KIMA asked Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin, "Are you going to be pulling people off the streets to handle these jobs?"
"I can't," Irwin said. "We don't have enough people on the street as it is. I don't have enough investigators."
The Sheriff said his department has until next month to have the security changes taken care of.
The Jail director, court administrator and sheriff are meeting to work out a plan.
