STROUD TOWNSHIP -- Judges' offices across Monroe County are beefing up security. Every district court will now have bullet-resistant glass, along with other security measures.
Bullet resistant glass is scheduled to be installed within the next month at a magistrate's office just outside of Stroudsburg. It's an extra layer of security, and something some say is a sign of the times in the Poconos.
District Judge Michael Muth's staff in Stroud Township work behind a thin pane of glass. But within the next month that will change. State grant money will replace the current pane of glass with a bullet-resistant one.
"I think because of what's happening in the world today, and you don't even have to go out of state to see what is happening at courthouses," said Deb Rivera, deputy court administrator for special courts.
Rivera oversees all 10 magistrates' offices in the county. She says an altercation inside Judge Muth's office a few months ago prompted the change. Now all 10 judge's offices in the county will have the specialized glass.
"We've had the bulletproof glass for several years and that's here just in case the unthinkable happens," said District Judge Phillip Riley.
Many who work at Judge Riley's office in Barrett Township say events like the Ross Township shooting in 2013 that took the lives of three people, and even the manhunt for Eric Frein make them appreciate these extra security precautions.
"Absolutely, it definitely…reassures you that you're safe and secure and nobody's going to be grabbing you or throwing fists or anything like that," said district court secretary Jill Kozic.
Magistrates throughout Monroe County are planning to add some additional security as well. Five of the 10 offices in Monroe County will be adding additional parking lot cameras by the end of the year.
"Coming from a police background, you see it all and you know that people are capable of just about anything," said Judge Riley.
Extra panic alarms have also been added in these court offices too, allowing staff to alert law enforcement if trouble ever does arise. Court workers say these steps are worth every penny.
"I'd rather be proactive than reactive. I'm glad that we've had as much security upgrades as possible because I wouldn't want to wait for something to happen," said Rivera.
The money for the bullet-resistant glass comes from a state grant through the administrative office of Pennsylvania Courts.
And just one small pane of glass costs around $4,300, money officials say is well spent.
