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SB 621

Courtroom Security - Minimum Adequate Security

2025 Regular Session

The bill establishes a statewide minimum adequate security standard for Maryland courthouses, with phased staffing to ensure at least a court security officer in each courtroom and

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 141
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Bill Summary · SB 621

SB 621 — Courtroom Security: Minimum Adequate Security Standard (Chapter 141, 2025)

Status & Key Dates
- Enacted: Approved by the Governor, April 22, 2025.
- Effective date: July 1, 2025.
- Reporting deadline: Law enforcement agencies providing courthouse security must submit a report by September 30, 2025.
- Phased staffing requirements: begin July 1, 2026 and fully expand July 1, 2028.
- Codified as: Adds § 1–206 to the Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article.

Purpose / Intent
- Establish statewide minimum standards for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities in Maryland and require an initial statewide assessment and plan for meeting those standards.

Main provisions
1. Minimum adequate security standard
- Creates a statutory “minimum adequate security” requirement for courtroom security at all courthouse facilities.
- Defines a “court security officer” as meeting the qualifications for a “special police officer” under Public Safety §3–301.

  1. Phased staffing requirements (statutory minimums)

    • Effective July 1, 2026:
      • At least one court security officer present in every courtroom during criminal, family, or juvenile proceedings.
      • Two officers for proceedings involving an incarcerated individual or where someone may be remanded to custody.
      • One additional court security officer for every four (or fewer) courtrooms on each courthouse floor.
    • Effective July 1, 2028:
      • At least one officer present in every courtroom during any proceeding (expands the one-officer rule beyond criminal/family/juvenile).
      • Two officers for proceedings involving incarcerated individuals (same as 2026).
      • Same “one additional per four courtrooms per floor” coverage requirement.

  2. Reporting requirement (due Sept 30, 2025)

    • Each law enforcement agency/department/entity providing courthouse security must report to the Chief Justice of the Maryland Supreme Court and (per State Government §2–1257) to the General Assembly, including:
      • Current number of court security officers available;
      • Minimum number needed to meet the statutory standard (accounting for leave/absences) and assurance that officers meet special police standards;
      • Number of funded courthouse security positions and current vacancies;
      • A viable plan to meet the standards;
      • Any obstacles to meeting the standards.

Fiscal and operational notes
- The Judiciary’s fiscal note indicates the reporting requirement can be handled with existing resources; no immediate revenue effect.
- The statutory staffing standards are likely to increase long‑term personnel, training, and funding needs for local jurisdictions (sheriffs’ offices and other agencies that staff courthouses) to hire, train, and certify officers as “special police.”
- The law responds to prior task force work (Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act and its December 2024 report) that recommended minimum courthouse security requirements.

Who is affected
- Primary: local law enforcement and agencies that provide courthouse security (county sheriffs, police departments), the Judiciary (courts), and county governments (budgeting/hiring).
- Secondary: judges, court staff, litigants, jurors, attorneys, incarcerated persons appearing in court, and the public who use courthouse facilities.

Implementation timeline summary
- July 1, 2025: Act takes effect.
- September 30, 2025: Agencies must submit the required report/plans.
- July 1, 2026: Initial staffing standards in force for criminal, family, and juvenile proceedings.
- July 1, 2028: One-officer-per-courtroom requirement expands to all proceedings.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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