Cook County has the largest unified court system in the nation, with eleven
courthouses located within the city of Chicago and six in the outlying Cook County
suburbs. The Court Services Department provides security for all court facilities.
Deputy sheriffs have the responsibility of providing security for judges
and other court officials as well as jurors, handing prisoners, and screening
all persons entering the courthouse to ensure that no illegal items or contraband
are allowed into the secured facility. Other duties performed by deputy sheriffs include
the service of summonses, warrants, orders of protection and eviction orders.
The Court Services Department also offers communities educational opportunities
through specially designed programs addressing topics such as drug resistance and gang
awareness.
Deputy sheriff's assigned to the Courtroom Services Division
, one of the divisions of the
Court Services Department, are responsible for all aspects of court security, which
includes prisoner control and courtroom decorum as well as security at all courthouse
entrances. When a person visits a court facility, regardless of the reason, they are
required to go through a security entrance and submit to a search. Every year, arrests
are made of individuals attempting to bring weapons, narcotics, controlled
substances and other contraband into the courthouses. Guarding prisoners who are
brought to court for trial may be the most important function that the courtroom
deputy performs. Providing safety and security to the judges in the courtrooms is also
a very high priority since the judge, as the imposer of penalties, is often the target
of emotional and sometimes physical outbursts. In addition to these duties, deputy
sheriffs must also maintain the decorum of the entire courtroom, including the
people in the gallery, jurors, witnesses and attorneys. In 1999, there were over
6.1 million cases heard in Cook County courtrooms. Deputy sheriffs not only provided
security for these cases, they were responsible for transporting and securing 385,296 prisoners
who appeared in court in 1999.
The Civil Division, another division of the Court Services Department, handles the service
of summonses, warrants, orders of protection and eviction orders. View the schedule for upcoming evictions.
