Bailiff

Go To:
[Current News Releases] [1997 Releases] [1996 Releases] [1995 Releases]
[Background Articles] [Annual Report Index of Summaries 1995-96 -- 1996-97]
[Sheriff's Office Home Page] [News Media Relations Home Page]

Bailiff

At a Glance

Manager Lt. Charles Bradford

Employees 24
Defendants Transported 6,515
Disposition Tickets 7,650
Process Services 3,876

Bailiff

The Bailiff Department handles two major functions: courtroom duties and process serving.

The bailiffs' main function, which accounts for most of their time, involves duties in and for the courtrooms and Judges of Louisiana's First Judicial District. A bailiff is assigned to each judge in four Criminal Courts, four Civil Courts, three Juvenile Courts, two Domestic Courts and one Child Support Court.

Bailiffs handle courtroom security functions, transport court staff during commitment proceedings and generate disposition paperwork. They are also responsible for the security of jurors during trials and for housing, feeding and transporting sequestered juries.

Most bailiffs not assigned to courtroom duty escort prisoners to and from holding facilities, while other bailiffs are responsible for overseeing and coordinating overall security for the Caddo Parish Courthouse.

The bailiffs' process-serving function involves typing and delivering subpoenas, notices, temporary restraining orders and other similar documents. Bailiffs serve about 75 papers per week, and handle process serving after all courtroom duties are completed.