650 W. State Street 815-319-6000

Prohibited Items List/attachment For 4/15/08 Media Release

12-31-1969

ATTENTION

Visitors and Employees

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), justice, professional, and public establishments are at high-risk for workplace violence. They claim, “Employees in these high-risk establishments and occupations need to be aware of the risk for homicide and take steps to ensure a safe workplace.” In an effort to make our facilities safer to all county employees and visitors, the Sheriff’s Office will begin eliminating certain items from being brought into the entrances of the building.

For the safety and wellbeing of every employee and visitor to the facilities, every person (excluding authorized persons/employees displaying a valid identification) who enters the buildings is screened through the magnetometers and items are x-rayed. At this point, no items that are prohibited will be allowed. This process is no different than that of passing through airport security and does not pose significant delays in entering Winnebago County facilities. In an effort to make the transition as smooth as possible, please review the list of items that will not be permitted into the facilities. The Sheriff’s Office realizes the implementation of this process may cause some delay in entering the buildings, but by being prepared for the change, you can help ease the process.

The prohibited items listed are not intended to be all-inclusive and it will be updated as necessary. To ensure everyone’s security, the screener may determine that an item not on the prohibited items list will not be allowed in the facilities. In addition, the screener may also determine that an item is dangerous and therefore may not be brought through the security checkpoint.

SHERIFF RICHARD A. MEYERS

Prohibited Items List

Each week, an average of twenty people are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted while working or on duty in the United States. (NIOSH, 1996) . A study by the U. S. Department of Justice found that 1 in every 6 violent crimes occurs at work. The following items WILL NOT be allowed in the Winnebago County Court Complexes and the Winnebago County Administration Building

Knives

Pocket knives……………any size

Kitchen knives

Razor knives

Safety razors

Box cutters

Carpenter knives

Coupon razor cutters

Penknives

Razor blades……………any type

Switchblades

Or any spring activated knives

P38 Can openers

Sprays [Pressurized]

Hair sprays

Mace sprays

Pepper sprays

Or any pressurized container

that is FLAMMABLE…….any size

Glass Objects

Glass bottle drinks

Other drinks (regardless of container type) not purchased within the buildings

Electronics

Cameras, Video Recorders, and Cell

Phones are prohibited from use in the

Courtrooms

Other Objects

Screwdrivers

Scissors……………..any type

Pliers………………...any type

Wrenches…………...any type

Wire cutters

Kitchen forks

Kitchen spoons

Laser pointers

Fingernail clippers/with files

Fingernail files

Nails…………………any type

Screws………………any type

Letter openers

Can openers (Church Key)

Knitting needles

Flashlights (not to exceed 3 inches)

Metal Combs/Picks

Locks [any size]

Key

Combination

Weapons

Firearms…………...…any type*

Ammunition……….....any type*

Handcuff keys……….any type*

Fireworks/Explosives

Any Contraband Item

*The only exception to the above is for Sworn Police Officers here on official duties

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