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 risafulli
says the security is effective, citing evidence that there
have been no shootings in the courthouse in recent years.
"My officers are working as fast as they can to check for
weapons," says Crisafulli. He, like his colleagues, defends
the system, adding, "The system is as efficient as we can
make it using metal detectors." He adds that permissible objects
set off the alarms far more frequently than weapons such as
razor blades or stun guns.
Security
is tighter today at the New York City courts than at the city’s
airports, which causes delays. Crisafulli says more security
is better than less, since many people are there because they’ve
been charged with a misdemeanor.
Although
the vast majority of people entering the courthouse —
jurors, witnesses, spectators — haven't been charged
with any crime, they are still subject to searches.
According
to Castellano, "The idea is not just to target gum wrappers,
because then every male or female who went through with a
working zipper would set the machines off.
"They
are sensitive, yes," Castellano adds. "But to a
fault? No."
Most
New Yorkers, so accustomed to waiting for everything from
postal stamps to subway tokens to movie tickets, take the
lines in stride. "It's for security, so I guess it's OK,"
says Eric Gooden, who submitted to a hand search in Criminal
Court when something — it wasn't clear what — set
off the metal detector. "In a situation like this, you may
have to be overly sensitive."
Many
potential jurors are more apt to complain about waiting all
day to be selected for a panel than they are about long lines
in the lobby. In any event, they have no choice.
"When
you come into the building, you’re going to be searched and
there’s nothing you can do about it," Crisafulli says. (Officers
say they will make an exception for pregnant women or for
people with pacemakers.) "Nobody likes to submit to searches,"
adds Gutowski. "But that’s what we’re here to do."
The
officers blame the delays not on their system, but on the
public. The people refuse to empty their pockets, they say,
or they forget about the telltale candy wrapper, which trips
the machine.
"I
wouldn't say people are stupid, but they are ignorant, or
maybe naive," Gutowski says.
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