New secure entrance on the north side of the Courthouse nears completion

Courthouse Security Vestibule Entrance

Hood River County Courthouse will soon have a new, secure entrance for access to offices and courtrooms housed in the building. The three-month Courthouse Security Capital Improvement project is scheduled for completion next month, funded by the local option levy approved by Hood River County voters in May, 2020.

Small by design at just over 100 square feet, the entrance will be staffed by security personnel all hours the building is open to the public. Visitors will be screened by x-ray and metal detectors similar to security screenings at airports. The new entrance’s roof extension will shield visitors from rain or snow, while improved ADA accessibility is also part of the design. The former building entrance will no longer be used by the public.

“This is a public building, and we want the public to be and to feel safe,” said Sheriff Matt English, who is overseeing the project. He relayed the need to ensure weapons and contraband are not brought into the building. Screenings in past years found over half of courthouse visitors carried restricted weapons into the building. Intentionally bringing a firearm or other weapon into a courthouse is a Class C felony in Oregon.

The three-story building houses multiple county and state departments such as the Hood River County Circuit Court for the 7th Judicial District (with two main courtrooms upstairs), the Sheriff’s Administration, Enforcement, Parole and Probation and Emergency Management Divisions, Hood River Prevention Department, District Attorney, and the Juvenile Department.

Security of the aging courthouse, built in 1954, has long been a concern in the community and statewide. A 2008 study noted the structure’s poor shape among judicial buildings statewide, mainly due to security concerns and seismic deficiencies.

A letter from the Oregon Judicial Department for a legislative funding request said of the Hood River building: “In addition to being seismically vulnerable, its outdated design and space utilization creates security issues for judges, staff, victims, witnesses, and the public.” The shared main hallway allows interaction among all parties and the public but falls behind modern standards, leading to security issues.

Five years ago, the County was in line for $4.4 million in state funding to initiate creation of a new courthouse, but budget cuts affected the County’s ability to put funds aside. The County Board of Commissioners asked the State Judicial Department to put the court replacement project on pause, but court security remained a concern.

For years, the County has been in talks about replacing the courthouse. In 2014, a contracted design firm, DLR Group, carried out a space and needs analysis. The study looked at alternative sites for the courthouse — such as the County yard off May Street — but the County came out of the process aiming to rebuild the courthouse at its existing site. Construction of a new courthouse is estimated to cost over $40 million and would be years away by the quickest possible outcome.

During construction, the driveway to the front of the building from State Street to Sherman Street has been closed to vehicle traffic, though visitors could walk up to the building from State St. and enter the main front doors. ADA parking has been made available in the Sherman St. employee lot with a doorbell system for ADA access through a secured space. The County thanks the community for its patience and understanding during this construction project.