Court Services Bureau
The San Diego Sheriff’s Court Services Bureau (CSB), provides security
services for the third largest court system in the United States. The
San Diego Superior Court system is comprised of:
- 128 judges
- 24 commissioners
- 10 court facilities
- 4,200 square-mile region serviced
- 3.05 million residents impacted
- 600,000 civil and criminal case filings each year
CSB operates with a budget of nearly $54.6 million dollars; $32.4
million of which is derived from a contract between the Superior Courts
and the Sheriff’s Department for the provision of security services. A
total of 305 full-time employees are assigned to court security-related
duties within the Superior Courts, which makes it the largest service
contract administered by the Sheriff’s Department.
CSB’s additional responsibilities include the safe and timely movement
of in-state, federal, and county prisoners to and from court
appearances, medical clinics, funerals, and local and out-of-county
warrants. In 2008, the Prisoner Transportation Detail transported
214,600 inmates and logged over 699,000 miles.
Residents and businesses in San Diego County utilized services by CSB to
help serve civil process and enforce court orders. Criminals are also
frequently apprehended through warrants of arrest served by CSB
personnel.
Additionally, CSB is responsible for the provision of security services
at the County Administrative Center (CAC).The Sheriff’s Department has
been providing this service since 2002. The CAC is host to approximately
325,000 public visitors a year who are screened for weapons prior to
admittance. This historic site accommodates approximately 1,000 County
employees and elected public officials who rely on Sheriff’s personnel
for their safety and security concerns. CSB continues to provide
relevant training for all building tenants to include personal security,
critical response and emergency evacuation drills.
In providing diligent security, CSB staff confiscated over 20,000
potential weapons while screening nearly 4 million individuals who
passed through courthouse weapons screening stations during 2008.
In 2008, the Sheriff’s Court Services Bureau, Civil Unit processed
70,180 documents and $22.8 million in fees and collections. It also
generated more than $2.8 million dollars in revenue.
The civil unit handles processes such as temporary restraining orders,
evictions, wage garnishments, bank levies, summons, claims, real and
personal property levies and sales. This unit handles a high volume of
customers in person and via telephone.
CSB HIGHLIGHTS
- In San Diego County, domestic violence remains a serious problem
affecting women, men, and children. In the past, victims of domestic
violence had limited information regarding restraining orders. The CSB
partnered with other agencies to enhance and increase efficiency and
accuracy in obtaining and processing domestic violent orders. The
Sheriff’s Department has enhanced customer service by providing an
Internet web page which provides critical restraining order information.
A domestic violence/temporary restraining order (DV/TRO) informational
packet has been developed and is linked to this web page that provides a
variety of resources for domestic violence victims.
- The Court Services Bureau has utilized the Sheriff’s REVERSE 9-1-1
System to alert and provide direction to court employees during critical
incidents in their courthouse and during evacuation drills.
- The Court Services Bureau has consolidated our Field Services Unit under
a central command. This leadership allows greater flexibility and
efficiency in serving the courts and the public. A major result of
central command is a total of 2,576 warrants cleared in 2008.
- During 2008, the CSB Investigation Unit reviewed 34 threats to judicial
officers, conducted 2,288 follow-up investigations, and worked 725
extradition cases. Through the bureau’s efforts the County realized a
savings from individuals that waived extradition. Additionally, the
Investigation Unit has worked with the Department of Justice to identify
judicial threat subjects who may have attempted to purchase firearms.
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