The Courts Division of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for carrying out the Sheriff’s statutory duty to maintain order and security within the court system. This division plays a vital role in ensuring that court proceedings are conducted safely, efficiently, and without disruption for judges, attorneys, court staff, defendants, jurors, and the public.
To effectively fulfill these responsibilities, the Courts Division is organized into two sections: Bailiffs and Court Security. Together, these units work to uphold courtroom decorum, safeguard court facilities, and support the overall operation of the judicial system.
Court security and courtroom operations are managed by designated court personnel assigned as Court Deputies, or Bailiffs. These deputies are supervised by one sergeant and three corporals, with a total of 26 deputy sheriffs assigned to the unit.
Court Deputies are responsible for maintaining decorum and ensuring safety within the courtroom. They monitor security threats, address security concerns as they arise, and coordinate evacuations during emergencies. Court Deputies also make arrests for outstanding criminal warrants for individuals who appear in court and serve civil process paperwork to parties present for proceedings.
While Court Deputies play a critical role in courtroom security and operations, they do not prepare judges’ benches or post and file the daily docket, as those duties are the responsibility of the Clerk’s Office, the individual judge, or their staff.
Court Deputy assignments include Circuit Criminal, Circuit Civil, and General Sessions courts. In their role as bailiffs, these deputies maintain order and provide security at every level of the court system, including General Sessions Court, Juvenile Court, Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and Grand Jury proceedings. Over 150,000 matters were heard in the court system in 2025, with more than 89,000 of those cases in General Sessions Court alone.
In addition to courtroom security, Court Deputies are responsible for opening and closing court sessions, ensuring the proper handling of trial evidence, and transporting and providing security for sequestered juries. Through these combined efforts, the unit plays a vital role in supporting the safe, orderly, and efficient operation of the court system.
Court Security and Court Transport operations are supervised by one sergeant and two corporals, with 15 deputy sheriffs assigned to the units. All personnel and supervisors are based within the Montgomery County Court Complex.
Court Security is responsible for maintaining order and safety throughout the Court Complex, including hallways, offices, the probation area, courtrooms, inmate holding areas, and various meetings and proceedings. Deputies screen all individuals entering the complex using X-ray scanners, conduct physical searches as necessary, inspect packages, purses, and briefcases, and monitor security cameras and alarm systems. The unit also staffs the Historic Courthouse daily—not only during Commission meetings—and provides security for meetings of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Additionally, deputies conduct escorts of individuals to their vehicles when requested. Through these efforts, Court Security helps ensure the safety of thousands of citizens who utilize the court system each year.
Court Transport manages the daily movement of inmates between the detention center and the courthouse, delivering inmates to the appropriate courtroom as needed. The unit transports new arrests and individuals served with criminal warrants to the jail, handles juvenile detainees, and is responsible for the secure movement of arrestees and inmates within the courthouse. Court Transport works closely with law enforcement agencies across the state, including juvenile detention centers, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and Austin Peay State University, to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Court Supervisory Staff