Judicial Services
The Judicial Services Unit is responsible for a variety of tasks including court security and civil process. The mission of the Judicial Services Unit is to provide safe and secure judicial services as well as administrative support and resources to ensure the efficient day to day operations within the Sheriff’s Office.
Court Security
The court security unit maintains security and order for the entire court system including the courtrooms of the Circuit Court, Magistrate’s Court and Family Court. Additionally, this unit must ensure the safe movement of inmates/prisoners to and from the Detention Center for court proceedings, provide support services to Judges as situations dictate, manage jurors both in the courtroom and when sequestered, and other related tasks and duties as required by the Courts.
Security checks are performed on all persons entering the Court System to include attorneys, private citizens, visitors, witnesses, petitioners, victims, media and others who may have business within the facilities.
When court is not in session, those assigned to court security help serve the growing number of civil and criminal judicial documents.
Civil Process
Constitutionally, the Sheriff of Lancaster County is responsible for carrying out the service of civil process within the jurisdiction of Lancaster County. Personnel assigned to civil process, execute and return to the courts the civil process which, is directed to the Sheriff for service.
Civil Process deputies serves all legal notices, summonses, orders, and other civil processes issued by the courts and other legal entities. It also supervises, and executes levies, sales, and seizure of property when ordered by the courts. Civil Process also serves child support rules, family court actions, subpoenas, arrest warrants, orders of protection, and many other forms of judicial process.
Judicial Services is comprised of 18 deputies assigned to either court security or civil process. The Judicial Services Unit is supervised by Lt. Towanna Barnes and Sgt. Doug Vecchio.