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Thursday, 10 September 2009 |
BCSO Capt. Jim Ruth oversees the Judicial Services Division. One of the statutory responsibilities of the sheriff’s office is to protect the courts. All totaled, there are 13 courts in the county being protected by 16 deputies in three locations:
* Criminal Court and Criminal Adult Drug Court are presided over by Judge Carroll Ross.
* Criminal Court is presided over by Judge Amy Reedy.
* General Sessions Court is presided over by Judge Sheridan Randolph.
* Circuit Court 1 is presided over by Judge Mike Sharp.
* Circuit Court 2 is presided over by Judge Larry Puckett.
* Chancery Court is presided over by Judge Jerri Bryant.
* Judge Daniel Swafford presides over four courts, including Juvenile/Sessions Court, Environmental Court, Family Court and Juvenile Drug Court. When he cannot be present himself, he is assisted by attorneys who serve as mediators on his behalf. The mediating attorneys are Sally Love, Kirk Benson, Steve Crump and Rod Miller. Attorney Sandra Donaghy is Judge Swafford’s mediator in Juvenile Drug Court.
* Child Support Court is presided over by Judge Carl Colloms.
* Lastly, the County Commission meetings are actually considered another court, the County Court, and is chaired by Commissioner Louie Alford.
The Judicial Services deputies provide safety in and around the court areas and are responsible for screening people entering the criminal courts with x ray machines and magnetometers to ensure weapons or contraband are not brought into the courtrooms. They also respond to help alarms located in various offices inside the courthouse, as well as the Judicial Complex. Certain deputies of the Judicial Services Division are assigned to work with specific judges and are responsible for opening court and helping manage the courtroom, often with the assistance of other deputies. In cases where a judge may be threatened, deputies closely monitor the judge’s routine and movements to help ensure their safety.
The deputies of the Judicial Services Division also serve civil and criminal warrants, and when court is not in session, those assigned to court security help serve the ever growing number of civil and criminal judicial documents. In some cases, the Judicial Services Division is directed to remove people from residences after the court has returned possession of the property to the landlord or mortgage company. In certain extreme custody and abuse cases, these deputies may also have to remove children from parents or custodial guardians for their own safety and security.
The Judicial Services Division is an indispensable part of Bradley County’s justice system. As with patrol deputies, Criminal Investigations and the deputies working in the jail, there is an unpredictable nature to judicial services that carries the ever-present potential for violence. The men and women of the BCSO do a great job of facing that potential head-on and effectively protecting this community. I am grateful to them all.
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