BLOOMINGTON - Recent changes to the security screening area at the McLean County Law and Justice Center were made by county officials with an eye for stopping potential violence at the door.

Before his retirement earlier this year, McLean County Sgt. Bill Galloway supervised security at the building, where 1,700 to 2,000 people enter every day. Galloway returned last week to see the remodeling to the security area, which officials hope will better protect county screening officers, the public and county employees.

"You never know what's on people's minds," said Galloway, who was the victim of courtroom violence in July 2006 when a juvenile struck the 30-year veteran officer as he was placing handcuffs on the youth.

Galloway supported efforts by Sheriff Mike Emery to upgrade security in the building.

Visitors who come through the doors of the courthouse on a daily basis must pass through a metal detector and allow their purses, bags and briefcases to be examined through an X-ray device.

The $37,000 project included construction of a glass wall across the lobby and relocation of the screening devices to a position that gives screening officers a better view of all three entrances to the building. The changes were made after an assessment of the building in March by the U.S. Marshal's Service.

The sheriff acknowledged that the courthouse can be a place of tension and high emotion, a place where people's lives are changed by a jury's verdict or a judge's sentencing order. It also can be a place where people, including gang members, come to settle differences, he said.

"At some trials, you have warring gang members sitting on opposite sides of the courtroom," said Emery.

Police and screeners are trained to recognize gang colors and patches and bar those people from the building.

The increasing violence against judges across the country is on the minds of county officials who routinely review local security measures.

"Judges are most prone to (become victims of) violence because of what goes on in their courtrooms," noted Emery.

The sheriff's department has acquired a large collection of items that did not make it thorough the screening process.

"We're looking for anything that could be considered a weapon of opportunity," said Galloway.

Several lighters shaped like guns, scissors, pepper spray, screwdrivers and common-looking magnifying glasses that hide dangerous knives are in the police collection. Dozens of knives - most designed to fit in a pocket but others large enough to slice roast beef - are confiscated if visitors choose to leave them behind. Tasers that are legal to carry in other states also came through the doors.

The new location of the screening area allows more people to wait inside the building for their turn to pass security. On days when potential jurors are reporting, the lines can stretch almost to Front Street. While the sheriff is sympathetic to delays, he does not apologize for the security process, which often requires people to take off their metal-buckled belts.

"It has to be all or nothing. If we irritate some people, we can live with that," said the sheriff.

Officers from McLean County, including Galloway and his replacement as chief of security, Sgt. Jon Sandage, completed U.S. Marshal's Service court security training.