[Winona] Courthouse nightmare

[Chris Nelson]

After reading with interest the comments about the courthouse, I thought I would like to offer my feelings.  The courthouse is a security nightmare!    There needs to be a tunnel built connecting the LEC to the courthouse.  I would put a courtroom at the end of this tunnel and it would be used for initial appearances (IA).    Another elevator needs to be built that could just be used for prisoners to the other courtrooms.  This elevator would also be off of this tunnel.  Ever ridden up to a floor with a prisoner in the elevator with you?  Feel a little unsafe?   One courtroom needs to be remodeled for high profile cases.  This courtroom would have bulletproof glass separating the public from the court (this list can go on).  This would be the IA courtroom.   Other security measures such as cameras, the ability in the future for metal detectors, and so on also need to be addressed.   I recall in Madison where a deputy was taken hostage for 12 hours, and a prisoner that escaped out of a courtroom took a small child hostage.  Some of these people just aren't nice.   In my opinion we would be better off with a new courthouse that would address these issues.  I still haven't heard much about the jail and its overcrowding.  This is the time to take care of the problem and build a new one.  Cells could be rented to other counties and the Federal Government for prisoners in transit.   Chris Nelson