There are courtroom crises in this country every day and each one has the potential to turn deadly in a matter of seconds. Courtroom officials are threatened or attacked, the victim's family attack the offenders and the defendants attempt to escape or attack the witnesses. Defendants and victims both attack attorneys and there are even times when opposing attorneys attack each other. Incidents such as this are not always preventable but there are proactive measures which can be implemented.

Read this article to learn how a normal courtroom procedure can turn violent.

Inmate accused of trying to grab deputy's gun in Hillsborough court:http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/hillsborough-inmate-tried-to-grab-deputys-gun-in-courtroom-authorities-say/2134109Links to an external site.

• What are some of the obstacles to maintaining a secure courtroom?
• Considering the various types of crises that can occur in the courtroom which one do you feel has the potential to become the greatest threat to the courtroom participants? Describe the crisis you selected and why it is potentially the most threatening to the courtroom participants.
• It has been suggested that one way to make the courtrooms safer is to not allow any observers during a hearing. They would be able to view the courtroom scene through closed-circuit television. Would this modification have any effect on our Constitutional rights as it relates to the court system? Explain your answer.