The Western District of Arkansas Fort Smith Courthouse
The U.S. Marshals Service recently announced that the federal courthouses in Fort Smith, Fayetteville, El Dorado and Texarkana are or will be undergoing renovations aimed at enhancing building security and safety.
Construction of a brick wall around the federal courthouse in Fort Smith is underway and is set to wrap up next month.
That work is being done to eliminate vehicular traffic on the front lawn and along the large sidewalk between the courthouse and Hanna Oil. The sidewalk was previously a roadway and many drivers believe it still is and use it that way, according to a release.
Occasionally, people have also driven up to the front door of the building using the large semi-circular sidewalks there. Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal Allen said in a news release, “You can’t just drive up to the front door of a federal facility anymore, and, while it’s unfortunate, those are the times we live in. Domestic terrorism, mass shootings and violent protests are all hot topics in the media, and the United States Marshals Service is tasked with not only protecting the physical structure of a federal courthouse, but also with protecting those within those facilities, including federal judges, jurors and the general public.” Public utilities, like the large gas main that surround the courthouse in Fort Smith, are also at risk of being damaged.
Similar work at the federal courthouse in Fayetteville is almost complete. That project includes fencing tenant parking.
Prior to the project, the rear of the building was open, creating parking and safety issues.
Allen said, “Just as we screen the public upon entry to any federal courthouse, we must also consider potential intrusions from the exterior of the building – a vehicle, when used as a weapon, can inflect significant harm to persons or a structure. Employees come to work every day to serve our citizens, and we owe it to them to provide a safe place to work.”
The federal courthouses in El Dorado and Texarkana will also undergo exterior and interior security enhancements, and that work will ramp up as the two ongoing projects wind down. Allen said the El Dorado courthouse is especially old, unsafe and enhancements to it are long overdue.
Many of these federal courthouses in western Arkansas are historic. Allen said, “The United States Marshals Service and the General Services Administration work closely in the design phases of any project, which are often years in the making, and comply with all historical mandates and local code requirements – we understand taxpayer value, and always commit to wise spending.”
Arkansas Business will update this story.
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