PUTNAM COUNTY, TN – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will be instituting a new court security
process on November 5 th .
The new entry and exit process is part of measures taken by PCSO to increase the safety and security of the Justice Center. The Sheriff’s Office received a $36,000 grant from the State Administrative Office of the Courts, which went towards state-of-the-art screening and x-ray equipment. County court security
fees were used to purchase new high-definition cameras. The security equipment was 25 years old and
in desperate need of replacement. The old x-ray machine and metal detectors will now be moved to the
Old Putnam County Courthouse to assist with any security needs there. Sheriff Farris already increased
the number of Court Deputies serving at the Justice Center, but these new measures will help to enhance
security as well as expedite the entry and exit of individuals from within the Center.
“We are proud to have received this security grant, and we would like to thank all of our judges and the
Administrative Office of the Courts for helping us make the Putnam County Justice Center safer,” said
Sheriff Farris. “I have instructed Court Deputies to remain friendly and helpful, however, this is a
professional, rule following and law-abiding area. In the last several years there have been violent acts perpetrated in courtrooms, and it is our job to keep those type of acts from occurring here.”
Anyone visiting the Justice Center will need to enter through the South Doors (parking lot side). They
will then walk through the screening process with the metal detectors and X-ray machine, which will
now be located at the South Doors, in order to gain access to the building. Everyone will now exit the
building through the North Doors (South Lowe Ave. & Spring St. side). This one-way foot traffic flow will aid in the screening process for anyone entering the Justice Center. In order to enter the facility, all rules and regulations apply to everyone, whether that be the circuit court clerk’s office or any other courtrooms.