August 31, 2013
Bailiff Career and Salary Profile
Bailiffs are legal officers whose main role is to maintain law and order during courtroom proceedings. Judges depend on bailiffs to ensure that the public, jury, legal teams and defendants proceed through trials and other court proceedings peacefully and with the required decorum. An exciting career as a bailiff can begin by enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice.
Bailiff Job Outlook
According to national data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2011, employment for bailiffs is projected to grow as fast as the average occupation through 2018. A growing job rate may not guarantee employment in the industry. Prospective students are encouraged to conduct independent research regarding actual job growth rates, which vary according to location, education and experience. In addition, every job seeker is encouraged to do independent research into local trends and requirements.
Bailiff Job Duties
Bailiffs may also be known as marshals or court officers, depending on the jurisdiction in which they work. They fulfill numerous important legal functions, but primarily serve to enforce courtroom rules and maintain security during trials and other proceedings.
In some locations, bailiffs assist and protect the judge and jury throughout the court proceedings. They often declare the entry of the judge and swear in witnesses. They may accompany a jury in an active trial when outside the courtroom, to prevent contact with the public. If a jury is sequestered, bailiffs will typically provide security. Bailiffs also often assist jurors with their duties, distribute jury questionnaires, and relay messages from jurors to the court and their families.
Additional duties of bailiffs include preparing the courtroom for the day’s proceedings, ensuring the courtroom has adequate supplies of needed items, completing required paperwork and reports, and posting the daily case