Special constable

You will often see me in the courtrooms or patrolling the halls of the courthouse, and probably wonder: “Is he a police officer? A security guard?” I am both of these at once and more!

I am responsible for the protection of the public everywhere in the courthouse. Whether in a courtroom or anywhere else in the courthouse, my role is to make sure that order is maintained. A courtroom is not a recreation room; there is a certain decorum to uphold. When I am working in a courtroom, I make sure that the public respects certain rules. I have often had to tell people to stop talking, to not wear hats in court, and I have even had to eject people who were being too noisy.

Some criminal cases can give rise to a great deal of emotion. In a sexual assault or murder case, for example, feelings can run high. To avoid any unfortunate events, I make sure that the families of the victims and of the accused do not sit near each other. There are also trials where we can anticipate that there will be a confrontation. I remember one case of murder that involved two organized crime groups. My colleagues and I had to search every person who came to the courtroom to make sure that none of them were armed.

I have a special role during jury trials. I am the one who has to protect and escort the jury members. Being a juror can be a stressful experience sometimes. I am there to ensure that the members of the jury aren’t victims of threats or any outside influence. I am also responsible for keeping people from entering the room reserved for the jury. I am actually the only person who can have direct contact with the jurors. That is why I have to take an oath promising to keep their discussions a secret.

Aside from my work in the courtrooms, I am in charge of security and keeping order everywhere else in the building. A courthouse is not a place where people are always happy. Frustration, betrayal, and old grudges can sometimes lead to threats, vandalism and even acts of violence. To help me prevent such incidents, I have been given the same powers as a police officer inside the courthouse. This is why I am asked to carry a weapon. This way I can arrest certain people and search them just like a police officer.

So it is thanks to me and the other special constables that people can feel safe inside the walls of the courthouse. Through our work, my colleagues and I guarantee that no violence or intimidation in the courtroom will harm our justice system.