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First published online November 25, 2009

Research Note: Courthouse Shootings 1907-2007

Abstract

As long as there have been courthouses, there has been a danger of violence surrounding them. Courthouses are a place where people take conflicts to be solved. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 by foreign terrorists and the earlier 1995 attack against the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City by domestic terrorists has increased the awareness of the need for more security in public buildings. In this descriptive study of 500 sheriff’s departments across the United States, 114 courthouse shootings are examined for motive, weapon availability, and casualties occurred.

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References

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Information

Published In

Article first published online: November 25, 2009
Issue published: February 2010

Keywords

  1. courthouse violence
  2. court security
  3. domestic violence
  4. shootings

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© 2010 SAGEPublications.
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History

Published online: November 25, 2009
Issue published: February 2010

Authors

Affiliations

Gregg W. Etter
University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, [email protected]
Warren G. Swymeler
University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg

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