Effective July 1, no cellular phones of any type, in possession of the general public, will be allowed in the Rowan County Justice Center.
Previously, only camera phones had been banned because some members of the public had actually used them to snap photos in the courtroom, according to a press release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
This new policy is the result of several factors. There has been an ongoing increase in the number of cell phones that are both ringing and actually being answered by the public during open court. These phones were being seized at the direction of the presiding judge and were returned to the owner at the judge’s discretion.
In addition to disruptions during open court, the requirement to check every cell phone coming into the courthouse at the security check stations greatly impedes the efficiency of the staff at the security check stations, the release says. There are delays caused by the requirement to check every cell phone, thereby reducing security throughout the Justice Center.
“We appreciate the public’s assistance in our ongoing effort to make The Rowan County Justice Center a safe and secure facility,” the release says.