LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is changing its strategy when it comes to courthouse security.
From fights in the courthouse to threats to kill judges and their families, there have been several instances in Louisville through the years.
That's why new Sheriff David James announced the start of a Judicial Threat Assessment Center in the courthouse.
It's called JTAC, and will focus on flagging threats early, coordinating with prosecutors and mental health professionals, and intervention before situations get violent.
"This initiative strengthens our commitment to safety within our courthouses by identifying and addressing potential threats before they escalate, protecting judges, court staff and the public," James said Tuesday.
The sheriff added that it isn't surveillance of lawful speech.
"It is not political, it is not mental health profiling. It focuses strictly on credible threats and behaviors, not opinions," he said. " ... We've seen threats to judges, sometimes you don't see the threats to family members, to witnesses, to the clerks that work inside the courthouse. So this is all-inclusive to anyone."
The new unit doesn't mean new deputies will be added. The sheriff's office said it will repurpose detectives already on staff.
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