WHEREAS, screening stations are located at courthouse entrances for purposes of detecting weapons and other dangerous objects and preventing persons from entering said facilities with such items in their possession, and

            WHEREAS, the Sheriffs of Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties are ultimately responsible for the provision of security services in courthouses located in their respective counties, and

            WHEREAS, the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court wishes to implement uniform security and screening procedures at each court facility within the circuit while, at the same time, preserving the discretion of security personnel to perform a more extensive screening upon identification of a specific threat;

            NOW THEREFORE, I, JAMES R. CLAYTON, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, hereby order that unless otherwise authorized by the Court, all individuals entering a court facility within the circuit shall subject themselves (as well as their briefcases, purses or other parcels) to an initial security screening prior to being allowed entry.  The removal of an individual’s belt or shoes as part of this initial screening is not required.  If, after initial screening, security personnel have a well founded belief that one of these items is intended to be used as a weapon or to conceal a weapon, then they may request removal of the belt or shoes for further inspection.

            IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that individuals who refuse to be screened or who are found to be in possession of weapons or other dangerous items shall be denied entry.  Items NOT permitted in the court facilities include:  firearms, ammunition, explosives of any type, Taser/stun guns, chemical or pepper sprays, knives or other objects with sharp edges, tools, handcuffs and handcuff keys.

            IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that unless security personnel conclude that they are intended to be used as weapons, individuals may enter court facilities in possession of the following items:  personal hygiene kits (nail clippers, nail file or cleaner, small scissors), laser pointers for use in presentations, and small glass bottles of hairspray or perfume.

            IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Sheriffs of Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties are responsible for the enforcement of this Order in their respective counties.

TO BE RECORDED in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

DONE AND ORDERED in DeLand, Volusia County, Florida this 27^th day of September 2022.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT PERMITTED
IN THE COURTHOUSES OF THE
SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

WEAPONS

• Firearms
• Ammunition
• Explosives of any type
• Tasers or stun guns
• Other weapons described in Fla. Stat. §790.001

KNIVES/EDGED WEAPONS

• Knives
• Razor blades
• Box cutters
• Other edged weapons

SPRAYS

• Chemical or pepper sprays
• Cigarette Lighters / matches*

*Cigarette lighters and matches are permitted in courthouses with courtyards or other outdoor smoking areas located beyond security screening checkpoints (ie. the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand and the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center in St. Augustine).

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PERMITTED*
IN THE COURTHOUSES OF THE
SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Personal hygiene kits (i.e., nail clippers, nail file or cleaner, small scissors)
• Hairspray, perfumes
• Laser pointers for use in presentations
• Other devices not designed, used or intended for use as weapons

*The list of permitted items is subject to security screening personnel’s discretion, on a case by case basis, to deny access to an individual with such item if they have a specific and identifiable concern that the item is, in fact, a weapon or otherwise intended for use as a weapon.