What is the purpose of establishing a perimeter around the affected area during a courthouse security incident?

• A. Contain the incident, protect bystanders, prevent spread of escalation, and preserve evidence.
• B. Keep the area fully open to allow free movement.
• C. Keep only security inside the perimeter and ignore others.
• D. Immediately close all entrances and evacuate the entire building.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is to create a controlled safety zone around the incident so responders can work, bystanders stay safe, and evidence remains intact. Establishing a perimeter confines the scene to reduce exposure to danger, prevents unauthorized entry or movement that could worsen the situation, and helps responders manage who goes in and out of the area. This separation also makes it easier to protect witnesses and victims, coordinate clearing or shelter-in-place actions, and communicate with court staff about which areas are safe to access again.

A perimeter also protects the integrity of evidence by limiting disturbances and contamination of the scene. It gives investigators room to operate, document conditions, and preserve conditions that could be important for the investigation. Keeping the area open would increase risk and hamper response; attempting to ignore bystanders or lock everyone out without a plan can create chaos and hinder rescue or evacuation efforts; closing every entrance and evacuating the entire building can be excessive and disruptive without improving safety in the immediate area. The perimeter focuses on safe, controlled access and orderly response.