Bailiff

Bailiffs provide courtroom security. They monitor the court for hidden weapons, bombs, or other security threats. Bailiffs frisk people to make sure they are not carrying any weapons, and if a weapon is discovered, bailiffs confiscate the weapon. Also, bailiffs are responsible to check the courtroom and ensure it is clean and orderly.

Bailiffs introduce the judge to the court when he or she enters it. During trials, bailiffs maintain order. When a judge is addressing juries, bailiffs prevent anyone from entering the courtroom. Bailiffs instruct people in attendance about the courtroom policies and enforce the rules if necessary. For example, a bailiff could instruct the jury not to smoke or talk when the court is in session. Bailiffs remove people violating the rules and restrain, if required, hostile people who disagree with court rulings. Bailiffs can contact outside help if they need assistance such as the sheriff or medical professionals.

Sometimes trials last more than one day. When this occurs, sometimes judges will prevent jurors from returning home until the trial is over, requiring them to stay at hotels. Bailiffs secure the hotels and accompany jurors to restaurants, to prevent jurors from discussing the trial with other people. Bailiffs also escort prisoners into and out of the courtroom, physically handle evidence, swear in witnesses, and make sure judges have the appropriate case files. Bailiffs have the following duties:

Announce the judge’s entry into the courtroom
Contact outside assistance, if necessary, for help
Monitor courtrooms for security threats and cleanliness and ensure judges have files
Escort juries to restaurants and other buildings if they are sequestered
Guard hotels juries stay in, and maintain courtroom order during proceedings
Prevent the public from contacting sequestered juries
Remove weapons from people entering the courtroom
Remove people disrupting trials
Prevent entrance into courtroom during jury instruction

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