Every day, judges make life-changing decisions from the bench, and receive many threats as a result. These threats set in motion a pathway to violence paved by certain behavioral indicators that alert law enforcement and trained professionals to be on guard. Listen in as court security expert John Muffler talks to Chief Judge Don Myers about threat assessment, workplace safety, and the steps you can take to prepare for and prevent violence.
Show Notes
- 1:12 - John Muffler’s background and work
- 2:30 - Are threats becoming more pervasive in our society?
- 4:30 - Copy cat violence and the 24-hour news cycle
- 5:28 - Mosaic Threat Assessment Systems
- 7:27 - Federal judicial threats
- 8:47 - Different threats to public figures, schools, domestic violence, and the judiciary
- 10:24 - Highly personal and impactful decisions made by judges
- 12:30 - Stressful courtroom dynamics and the behavioral pathway
- 13:05 - Most likely point of impromptu violence in courtroom
- 14:00 - Spectrums of threat communication
- 14:50 - The first first responder and violence intervention
- 15:22 - Dangerous attack points for judges and public officials
- 17:28 - Hunters, Howlers, and sharing information with law enforcement
- 20:10 - Situational awareness, intuition, and what fits and doesn’t fit
- 21:50 - Routine and a false sense of security
- 24:52 - Having armed deputies in courtroom as a danger deterrent
- 26:00 - The human factor, policies, and leadership responsibility
- 26:42 - Emergency training and failure
- 28:04 - Judicial security vulnerabilities and preparation
- 29:30 - Two-way information flow between the courts and the sheriff
- 30:33 - Analysis of the shooting of Judge Kocurek in Austin, Texas
- 37:45 - Judiciary live in the community they serve
