Court officials increase staffing to handle RNC arrests

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/court-officials-increase-staffing-to-handle-rnc-arrests/1241954

By John Barry, Times Staff Writer
John BarryTampa Bay Times Posted: Jul 24, 2012 05:00 PM

TAMPA — Both early birds and night owls who get in trouble during the Republican National Convention will be accommodated by a triple shift of judges, prosecutors and public defenders camping out for RNC week at the Falkenburg Road Jail.

Tampa has no idea how many arrests to expect from RNC protests Aug. 27-31, but one worst-case estimate is 1,000. If the worst happens, the courts and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office say they have plenty of judges and jail cells. Judges will convene at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day and will be prepared to stay late.

The first step will be to entirely fence off the downtown courthouse and annex as well as the State Attorney's Office and Public Defender's Office on Friday, Aug. 24. No juries will be summoned convention week. Court proceedings will be parceled out to the Falkenberg Road Jail and satellite offices.

The plan was actually developed years ago for natural disasters like hurricanes. It's never been needed. The Republican convention and any "waves" of violence or other lawbreaking, "is a good opportunity to test it out," says the 13th Judicial Circuit's Trial Court Administrator, Michael Bridenback.

[valerief]

1. I wonder how many people the cops will kill.

Nowadays, crowd = cops killing people

[rurallib]

2. will all the delegates be packing heat?

[Edweird]

3. At first I was all like "HaHA they need help with all the RNC'ers they are gonna arrest"

Then I realized what it really meant and serious'd.