DENVER -- Friday's shooting at an Atlanta courtroom has those who work in courtrooms around the country concerned.

Workers in Denver say most of the time they feel safe. Every entrance to the Denver City and County building is manned by security guards who work for a private security contractor and everyone entering must pass through a metal detector.

"I'd rather do that then get shot at in the courtroom," said courthouse worker Brigitte Juarez.

Deputies are also stationed in the courtrooms and the hallways throughout the building.

While security may be able to stop weapons from coming into the building, the sherifff's department admits it's much more difficult to guard against an individuals' state of mind and their desire for violence.

"We take extra security measures, we watch for potentially volatile situations," said Denver Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Darryle Brown.

In 1999 an inmate grabbed a gun from an officer inside a garage at the Adams County Justice Center and began firing. No one was hurt, but incidents like that one and the shootings in Atlanta leave courtroom workers worried.

"With the high-profile cases that go on in this building, you never know what could come through," Juarez said.

A new Denver jail planned for downtown would solve many security concerns, according to the sheriff's department. But that must still be approved by the voters. The sheriff's department also maintains a special security SWAT team at the City and County Building to respond to incidents like the one in Atlanta.