Baldwin County officials have dedicated a new sally port at the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette, adding a secure entrance meant to improve safety for everyone who passes through the building.
According to a Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, city and county officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
A sally port is an enclosed, garage-type security area that allows law enforcement to bring inmates into a secure space before escorting them into a building through a controlled entrance, separate from the public. At the Baldwin County Courthouse, the new sally port gives deputies a dedicated, enclosed entrance for bringing inmates due in court directly into the building.
“This project represents an important investment in the safety and security of everyone who walks through our courthouse — from Sheriff’s Office employees and courthouse staff to members of the public, inmates, and our court system,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its announcement.
“The added layer of security and improved efficiency will benefit our entire community for years to come,” the post continued.
Sally ports are a common security feature at courthouses and jails nationwide, designed to reduce the risk of an inmate escape or an altercation by limiting the points where the public and people in custody might otherwise cross paths. The Baldwin County Courthouse serves as the seat of county government in Bay Minette and handles a wide range of criminal and civil court proceedings for Baldwin County.