Many items banned from new County Judicial Center

Bemidji Pioneer

The Beltrami County Judicial Center, 600 Minnesota Ave. N.W. opened for business on June 15.

The building takes the place of the old courthouse, currently referred to as the Historical Courthouse, where the juvenile and adult probation offices are now housed. The new Judicial Center is home to the Beltrami County Court System, which includes the district judges, the clerk of courts, the county attorney’s office and all Beltrami County courtrooms.

The building was designed with security measures to protect employees and visitors to the courthouse. The new security measures in effect in the Judicial Center require people entering to pass through a metal detector like at an airport. This precaution is designed to prohibit any electronic devices, weapons or other potentially dangerous items from being taken into the building.

According to Beltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp, the following items will not be allowed inside the building:

-- Firearms, unless carried by a licensed peace officer on active duty and on official business; or other person as authorized by the court.

-- Knives, bladed instruments or cutting tools of any size.

-- Electronic incapacitation devices.

-- Chemical incapacitation sprays.

-- Explosives.

-- Ammunition.

-- Combustible or flammable liquid.

-- Any other item designed or carried as a weapon capable of producing death or great bodily harm.

-- Any replica or toy version of the above-listed items.

-- Any camera or electronic recording device.

-- Digital audio players and / or recorders.

-- Cellular telephones, electronic organizers and laptop computers, except as authorized by court order dated 2007.

-- Any item which is illegal to possess under Minnesota law.

These rules apply to anyone entering this building for any reason including reporting for jury duty, attending a hearing, visiting the county attorney’s office, paying a fine, being fingerprinted, inquiring of a warrant status or conducting other business with the clerk of courts office. Visitors must make plans prior to their arrival at the Judicial Center to stow, in a safe place, those items that are not allowed in the Judicial Center.