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ABERDEEN IMPLEMENTS COURT SECURITY MEASURES
TO MEET STATEWIDE RECOMMENDATIONS

            ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP (8/3/09) – Visitors to Aberdeen Township’s Municipal Court will notice a host of new security measures put in place as the municipality moves to meet recommendations outlined under the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Statewide Municipal Court Security Policy.    

            In addition to two Police Officers posted inside the courtroom, security at the township’s weekly municipal court sessions is now provided by two Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers who utilize equipment such as a magnetometer metal detector and handheld magnetic wands to screen visitors prior to their entry into the courtroom, as well as other less conspicuous security measures. When not working in the courtroom, the part-time, armed, Special Law Enforcement Officers are assigned to other law enforcement details in the municipality.

            Like other municipal courts throughout the state, Aberdeen’s handles cases involving motor vehicle and parking tickets, minor criminal-type offenses such as simple assault and bad checks, and municipal ordinance offenses such as dog barking or building code violations. While more serious criminal cases—such as robbery, auto theft, or assault—can start out as complaints filed in the Municipal Court, those cases are transferred to the state Superior Court located at the county courthouse in Freehold. In a typical week, the Aberdeen court will hear approximately 130 cases during its Wednesday sessions, which extend from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

            “Although violent incidents are rare in our courtroom, which immediately adjoins Police Headquarters, we are pleased to provide these extra measures of protection for our judges, prosecutors and other employees, individuals standing trial and their attorneys, as well as witnesses, and spectators,” said Mayor David Sobel. “These measures have allowed us to meet a number of the recommendations made by the state in advance of many other neighboring towns.”

             The statewide policy—developed by the Conference of Presiding Judges-Municipal Courts and the Municipal Division Managers and endorsed by the Administrative Council and the Judicial Council—was created to increase safety for all who participate in municipal court proceedings including court staff, litigants and witnesses.  The policy requires every New Jersey Municipal court to create a local court security committee and to develop a security plan.  Each municipal court was mandated to submit its plan to the Assignment Judge for review.  Aberdeen’s court security policy was developed in consultation with the township’s police and fire departments.