COVID-19 VIRUS RESPONSE PROTOCOLS

In conjunction with the recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and our local Benton Franklin Counties Health District, the following protocols are in place:

1. Face masks are required for all who enter a court facility.  See our general masking order in English click HERE, or in Spanish click HERE.  You may wear your own face covering or one will be provided to you.
2. Courtrooms have been reconfigured, furniture/fixtures rearranged, and marks have been placed on benches, seats, and flooring to provide for social distancing.
3. Hand-sanitizer stations are readily available.
4. Cleaning products will be readily available for use in the courtroom to include placement of said products at each counsel table, at the witness stand, and at other locations in the courtroom for access by jurors.
5. A health screening/symptom check/exposure question will be conducted on all who report to the courthouse.
6. All employees who enter the Benton County Courthouse, Benton County Justice Center, the Franklin County Courthouse and the Benton Franklin Counties Juvenile Justice Center are required to have their temperature taken.
7. The above locations are cleaned daily with extra attention given to high touch points.
8. The number of people entering the courtrooms has been significantly reduced as the result of the court moving to remote appearances via videoconferencing.
9. Jurors will be called in small groups to provide for a limited number of people in a larger space which will allow for social distancing.

DO NOT REPORT TO

THE COURTHOUSE IF:

JURORS SHOULD NOT REPORT TO THE COURTHOUSE IF THEY ARE FEELING ILL, EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 WITHIN THE LAST FOURTEEN (14) DAYS, OR HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO QUARANTINE.

Jurors who are ill, experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or are under quarantine should contact the Benton County Jury Department at 509-735-8388 ext. 3094 or the Franklin County Jury Department at 509-546-5805 or jury@co.franklin.wa.us to reschedule their jury service.

EXTENDED POSTPONEMENTS FOR HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS:

During the COVID-19 state of emergency, jurors may request postponement of jury service if you, or a household member, are considered at high risk for COVID-19.

Those considered at high risk include the following:

1. Persons age 65 and older
2. Persons who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
3. Persons of all ages with underlying medical conditions (particularly when not well controlled):

1. Persons with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
2. Persons who have serious heart conditions
3. Persons who are immunocompromised
4. Persons with severe obesity
5. Persons with diabetes
6. Persons with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
7. Persons with liver disease

You should have completed an online questionnaire with the above information.  If not and you wish postponement, please call Benton County at 509-735-8388 ext. 3094 or Franklin County at 509-546-5805 or jury@co.franklin.wa.us.