Bailiff

Job Description

It’s not uncommon for things to get a little out of control in a courtroom, which is why one or more bailiffs must be present to help keep the peace. Bailiffs are sworn peace officers that play an important role in ensuring courtrooms are safe and orderly. They are occasionally called marshals or court officers. Bailiffs are tasked with enforcing rules of conduct in the courtroom; helping judges with various tasks; protecting juries, judges, courtroom staff and any present members of the public from harm; delivering court documents; and providing security for the courthouse in general. The bailiff escorts those accused of crimes, or those who are soon to be sentenced for crimes, into or out of the courtroom—both for security and to prevent their escape. They may even transport them to and from a correctional facility. Some bailiffs conduct x-ray and metal detection examinations of people and objects entering the courtroom.

Educational Requirements

All bailiff positions will require candidates to possess a high school degree or its equivalent (such as a GED). Also, because bailiffs are peace officers, they must have completed a law enforcement training academy program. Many bailiffs have law enforcement and/or military backgrounds, but a quick search of bailiff job postings reveals that having at least some college education can compensate for lacking experience in these areas. While not typically required for work in lower courts, an associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will help those entering the profession to receive the best job opportunities. In fact, it is strongly preferred that deputy U.S. marshals serving as bailiffs in federal courts have earned a bachelor’s degree, unless they compensate with three years of experience or a combination of the two. In addition, some bailiff positions may require candidates to be at least 21 years old, pass a drug test and receive a criminal background check in which a potential bailiff must not have committed a felony.

Career Outlook and Salary

Bailiffs are expected to experience 9 percent employment growth between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median yearly salary for bailiffs was $37,820 in May 2008, the Bureau noted, but for bailiffs working in local government, the median yearly salary was $32,690. The top-paying states for bailiffs included Colorado, New York, California, Nevada and Florida. Another compensation data source, Payscale.com, placed the annual salary for bailiffs between $28,005 and $36,029 for bailiffs with 1-4 years of experience. However, only a limited sample of bailiffs had posted their salary information for the site. However, bailiffs typically enjoy certain benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. Many find their work interesting because of the variety of court cases they hear as part of their work. They may be present in courtrooms in situations as varied as a capital murder trial or a heated child custody dispute.