Policy Text
Court Security Division Page 1 of 7 1/01 (Rev 12/16)
General: Conduct
The purpose of this Operations Order is to define specific poli cies governing the
conduct of division personnel while working at any Sacramento C ounty Superior Court
facility. I. Policy
Providing security to judicial staff, the public, and inmates h as become increasingly
complex. It is important that a h igh level of professionalism be maintained in the work
place while fulfilling our obli gation to security. Although ea ch individual is responsible
for their actions, it i s the responsibility of each supervisor to ensure Department policies
and orders are enforced. II. Security
A. Weapons and Contraband
1. Public Areas
a. Weapons, prohibited by P enal Code §171b[a] or other
statute/court order, shall no t be brought into any Court
facility by any civilian empl oyee of the division without
supervisor approval.
b. Standing Order dated Decemb er 28, 2001, by Presiding
Judge Richard Park requires:
(1) Only sworn officers and S heriff’s Security Officers, on-
duty and in uniform, may bri ng firearms into a Court
facility.
(2) EXCEPTION: Sworn officers and Sheriff’s Security
Officers assigned to the Divis ion may bring firearms
into a Court facility whet her in uniform or not.
c. If any sworn officer is a p laintiff or defendant in a case b efore
the Court, no firearm is allowed to be carried into the facilit y.
(Penal Code §171b(b)(2)(B))
d. Civilian employees assigned to the division are authorized t o
carry a 2.5 ounce canister o f pepper spray (oleoresin
Court Security Division Page 2 of 7 1/01 (Rev 12/16) capsicum) into Court facilitie s. The employee must have a
security access authorization st icker attached to their Court
ID badge. The sticker is issued by the Court Administration.
e. No sworn officer or Sheriff Sec urity Officer shall circumven t
the prohibition of (non-evi dentiary) weapons, pursuant to
Penal Code §171b[a] or other s tatute/court order, on behalf
of any civilian, whether emplo yed by the Division or not,
without supervisor approval.
2. Inmate Holding Areas
a. No personnel shall bring any weapon or unnecessary item
that could be converted to a weapon into any Court inmate
holding area unless authoriz ed by a supervisor. (Penal
Code §4573)
3. Secure Areas
a. No personnel shall conduct fac ility tours involving public o r
non-department employees without prior supervisor approval.
B. Identification
1. Persons entering into a Cour t security area shall be properl y
identified. Officers shall cha llenge any person not known to t hem
as being authorized in a security area.
2. Maintenance personn el entering a Court S ecurity area shall n otify
Court Control immediately of t heir presence, purpose, and durat ion
of stay.
C. Keys
1. Court facility keys shall remain in the physical control of the person
using the keys and shall be retu rned to their assigned reposito ry
when no longer in use.
2. Inmates are not allowed to handle keys at any time.
3. No unauthorized duplicates s hall be made of any Department-
issued keys.
D. Inmates
1. All inmates/inmate workers per forming work in a Court facili ty shall
be closely supervised by sworn personnel.
Court Security Division Page 3 of 7 1/01 (Rev 12/16) 2. Before moving inmates in any secured area, officers should e nsure
there are not outside personnel in the area.
a. If it is necessary for outsi de personnel to be in a security
area during inmate movement, they must be escorted by an officer.
III. Relations
A. Co-Workers
1. Division personnel are prohibi ted from harassing or exhibiti ng
discourteous treatment toward other employees. (Sacramento County Civil Service Rule 11.4(k))
B. Public
1. An appearance at the Court facility may be the first contact a
member of the public h as with law enforcement personnel. First
impressions have a l ong lasting effect. Ma intain a professiona l
image and be court eous and helpful.
2. Refrain from ethnically or sex ually biased remarks, vulgarit y, or
loud, boisterous or other wise offensive behavior.
3. Do not offer legal advice or r ecommend the use of a particul ar
attorney or bondsman.
4. Citizen complaints against personnel should be referred to t he on-
duty supervisor as soon as reasonably possible.
C. Inmates
1. Do not discuss any Department p ersonnel matters with any inm ate.
2. Do not discuss an inmate’s cas e with them unless it is neces sary to
do so in an official capacity.
3. Do not offer legal advice or r ecommend the use of a particul ar
attorney or bondsman.
4. Personnel shall not knowingly establish any social or busine ss
contacts with any present or form er inmate unless specifically
authorized to do so by t he Division Commander.
5. Personnel shall not borrow m oney or lend money to any inmate .
6. Personnel shall not allow inma tes to use any electronic devi ce
(including landline or