Individuals who work or visit government buildings in La Salle County, Ill. might be required to wear identification badges in the not-so-distant future. The county’s Courthouse and Jail Committee has been asked to explore the idea of enhancing security for county facilities, most notably the courthouse, and the Governmental and Criminal Justice complex. There is concern that it’s too easy for unauthorized individuals to slip past security and access the buildings. An ID card program would help to ensure that access is only granted to the appropriate employees and visitors.

While board members are already issued IDs, most simply carry them in their wallets. The committee is exploring alternatives to the current system. One idea is to employ a more sophisticated card-based access control system that uses electronic card readers. Restricted areas would only be accessible for authorized employees with a certain ID card. Another option – less costly, and probably less secure – is to require employees to leave their badges at the security desk when they arrive, then pick up the cards when they leave. This would allow security to keep a record of who’s in and out.