(a) (1) There is established a training and certification program for court security officers.
(2) As used in this section, "court security officer" means an individual who is assigned the duty of providing security or security-related services at the request of an appellate court, circuit court, or district court in this state.
(3) (A) A court security officer may be employed directly by an appellate court, circuit court, district court, or a law enforcement agency of this state or a city or county in this state.
(B) A court security officer may provide services to a court on either a full-time or part-time basis.
(b) The duties of a court security officer may include:
(1) The attendance in court when court is in session;
(2) The supervision and maintenance of order in a courtroom or courthouse;
(3) Providing security for individuals involved in court proceedings; and
(4) Other incidental and related duties at the direction of a court.
(c) In order to be eligible to provide services in an appellate court, circuit court, or district court in this state, a court security officer shall:
(1) (A) Be certified as a law enforcement officer by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training under the laws and regulations of this state.
(B) A court security officer shall complete the law enforcement certification requirement within one (1) year of beginning his or her term of service as a court security officer.
(C) A court security officer shall maintain the law enforcement certification during the term of his or her service as a court security officer; and
(2) (A) Complete an additional training program for court security officers approved by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
(B) A court security officer shall complete the additional training program for court security officers within one (1) year of beginning his or her term of service as a court security officer.
(d) A court or law enforcement agency employing a court security officer shall:
(1) Ensure that a court security officer meets or attains the certification required under subdivisions (c)(1)(B) and (c)(2)(B) of this section; and
(2) Require submission of and maintain records for the documentation of the court security officer's certification as a law enforcement officer and of the court security officer's completion of the additional training program for court security officers.
(e) (1) Subject to the certification requirements of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, the officers of the Supreme Court police may offer and provide training for court security officers as required by this section.
(2) In addition to the general powers of a specialized law enforcement officer, Supreme Court police officers may, in the course of their official duties, provide security for members of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals when either court shall convene for the purpose of considering oral arguments or conferencing in any location within the State of Arkansas, including the authority to act as a peace officer to arrest, with or without warrant, any person within the boundaries of the State of Arkansas who is or is reasonably believed to be committing an offense against any laws of the State of Arkansas or against the ordinances of the city in which the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals is convened, and to deliver the person before any court of competent jurisdiction to be dealt with according to law.
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