New Brown County Courthouse entrance opens Oct. 14. Here’s what to know.

Starting October 14, you will need to enter the Brown County Courthouse through the new secure entrance on the East Walnut Street side of the building.

The new entrance will have a baggage scanner and metal detector and will be the only place the public can enter the courthouse. A single-point entry exists on the Doty Street side of the building, implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, courthouse security Lt. Joseph Patenaude previously told the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Doors on the Doty Street side of the building will now be secured as emergency exits.

Additional screening measures will be taken to ensure the safety of those visiting the courthouse, according to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. A list of prohibited items will be posted at the entrance.

The sheriff’s office asks the public to be aware of the following:

• All visitors must enter through the security entrance on Walnut Street.

• All visitors must submit all items carried for electronic screening and search.

• All visitors will be required to pass through a metal detector and may be required to submit to a metal detecting wand or hand search.

• Working hours of the courthouse complex are 07.45-16.30. The doors will remain open until the final hearing is completed.

• Brown County has a free app in the Google and Apple stores that provides information on each office’s locations, an interactive map, and a variety of quick link resources.

Brown County’s 2025 budget included $3.95 million for new secure entry. Patenaude told the Press-Gazette in November that there were no particular concerns about courthouse security and that the security change followed a nationwide pattern.

Vivian Barrett is a public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach him at vmbarrett@greenbay.gannett.com or (920) 431-8314.

This article first appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette: What to know about the Brown County Courthouse’s new secure entrance