The Porter County Sheriff’s Court Security Division provides a safe and secure environment for all who visit and work in the Porter County courthouse facilities and 157 S. Franklin building. The Division continuously works to deliver effective security by: 

• Preventing threats from gaining access to Porter County court facilities and the 157 S. Franklin building. 

• Reacting quickly and skillfully to mitigate any emergency incident.

• Applying technological expertise and knowledge to minimize security risks. 

 

The Porter County Sheriff’s Court Security Officers:

• Deliver quality court security services in a professional manner.

• Abide by high standards of ethical behavior and integrity.

• Treat all individuals with courtesy and dignity.

 

CONSENT TO SEARCH AND INSPECTION OF PROPERTY

All persons who enter one of the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building, by their request to enter, consent to a search of their persons and the inspection of any package, briefcase, purse, or other container which the entering person carries or seeks to bring into the Courthouse or 157 S. Franklin building.

 

PERSONS SUBJECT TO SEARCH

No member of the public will enter a Porter County courthouse or the 157 S. Franklin building unless such member of the public shall first submit to such screening and/or search procedures as directed by Porter County Sheriff’s Court Security Personnel.

 

DANGEROUS ITEMS

There are a variety of potentially hazardous and dangerous items that are not permitted inside the Porter County courthouse facilities or the 157 S. Franklin building. In general, items that could be used to injure or harm another person are not permitted and cannot be brought into Porter County courthouse facilities or the 157 S. Franklin building. If in doubt about an item, leave it at home. If a potentially hazardous or dangerous item is brought into the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building, the person possessing the item must remove it from the building. The goal of item prohibitions is to make the buildings a safe environment for all.

 

PROHIBITION AGAINST WEAPONS 

No person shall possess a weapon on or about his or her person or within any case, container or other object within the control of such person when such person is within the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building. Any person refusing to comply with this will be denied entrance into the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building.

 

DEFINITION OF WEAPON

A weapon includes, but is not limited to any of the following:

• "Club" is given its ordinary meaning and shall include any object that can be used to inflict blunt trauma or threaten or cause injury to persons or property;

• "Deadly weapon" has the meaning as defined by I.C. 35-31.5-2-85;

• "Electric stun weapon" has the meaning as defined by I.C. 35-47-8-1;

• "Explosive" means any agent, chemical compound, substance or mechanical system tending to explode or capable of exploding, and shall include but not be limited to gunpowder and dynamite;

• "Firearm" has the meaning as defined by I.C. 35-47-1-5;

• "Knife" is given its ordinary meaning and shall include any sharp, pointed object that can be used to cut or puncture;

• "Stun gun" has the meaning as defined by I.C. 35-47-8-2;

• "Taser" has the meaning as defined by I.C. 35-47-8-3;

• Any other object that in the manner in which it is used, or could ordinarily be used, or is intended to be used, is readily capable of causing serious bodily injury as defined in I.C. 35-31.5-2-292, as determined by Court Security Personnel.

 

PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

No person shall possess alcohol or any controlled substances without a valid prescription on or about his or her person or within any case, container or other package within the control of such person when such person is within or seeks entry into the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building.

 

PROHIBITION OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES

Technological devices such as cell phones, pagers, calendar palm pilots, I-pods, MP 3 and 4 players, media players, DVD players, Bluetooth, I-phones, Smartphones, mobile video players, laptops, notebooks, GPS receivers, cameras, etc. are not allowed by visitors in the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building probation office.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

All visitors will need to remove items from their person that may set off the magnetometer (metal detector) and place them into the bin provided by Court Security Officers. Visitors will then walk through the metal detector after removing items from their person. If the metal detector goes off after walking through, you may be scanned with a metal detector wand. Please advise the Court Security Officers if you are wearing steel toe shoes or have a medical condition that prohibits you from walking through a metal detector.

 

The screening procedures conducted by Court Security Officers may cause a short delay when entering the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building. Visitors are advised to plan to arrive a few minutes in advance to avoid being late for scheduled proceedings.

 

Any visitor to the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building who has a safety concern or security issue should contact any of the on-duty Court Security Officers. A security officer or supervisor will gladly assist.

 

All visitors to the Porter County courthouse facilities or 157 S. Franklin building are asked to cooperate with the Porter County Sheriff’s Court Security Officers. They are under specific instructions for the purpose of providing a safe environment for members of the public who have business with Porter County.

 

LOCATIONS SECURED BY THE PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S COURT SECURITY DIVISION

 

1. Porter County Courthouse, 16 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383

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2. North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 46368

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3. Porter County Juvenile Service Center, 1660 S. State Road 2, Valparaiso, IN 46385

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4. Porter County Building, 157 S. Franklin St, Valparaiso, IN 46383

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