Thirteen new deputy sheriffs have been added to the ranks of the B.C. Sheriff Service, helping to fulfill government's commitment to strengthen the court system, announced Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

Over the past two years, B.C.'s sheriff service has grown by 15 per cent, increasing the number of sheriffs serving British Columbians from 465 to 533. The addition of 13 new deputy sheriffs brings the total to 36 hired this year.

The deputy sheriffs graduated last month from the sheriff academy at the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) in New Westminster, where they received extensive training for their role in the safe and orderly operation of court proceedings.

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs work in 45 courthouses and 44 circuit courts in communities throughout the province. Their main responsibilities include:

• Providing prisoner escorts between courthouses, correctional centres and police lock-up facilities.
• Courthouse and courtroom security, including the management of courthouse lock-up facilities.
• Jury management.
• Providing protection services to government, as well as threat assessment to ministries.

The deputy sheriffs have been assigned throughout B.C. with the Lower Mainland receiving nine auxiliary sheriffs and Prince George, Terrace, Nelson and Williams Lake each receiving one full-time sheriff.

Quotes:

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Sheriffs are an important part of our justice system, and we are proud of the long and distinguished service they have provided to British Columbians. By training these new sheriffs, we are helping to alleviate pressures in the courts and ensure B.C. courthouses are safe and secure."

Chief Sheriff Dave Maedel -

"A strong justice system requires support on a number of fronts, and the addition of these new sheriff resources will ensure that courtrooms continue to run in an orderly and safe manner. Our graduates complete rigorous and challenging training at the Justice Institute before being deployed to locations across the province where they will work with their more than 500 colleagues."

Quick Facts:

The B.C. government continues to support the provincial court system with important resources and investments to ensure timely access to justice:

• Earlier this month, the appointment of nine new judges was announced, which responds to recommendations made in Geoffrey Cowper's report, A Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century
•  The B.C. government and the Office of the Chief Judge recently signed a protocol agreement to work together on two backlog reduction projects.
• The Office of the Chief Judge will assign the equivalent of one full-time judge to the backlog projects over the next year.
• In addition to sheriffs, the court services branch has more than 700 employees working in court administration, which includes court clerks, court registry staff and managers.
• In October 2011, the B.C. government established the centre for court administration at JIBC, which provides accredited training to court administration staff.
• The B.C. government invests over $1 billion annually in public safety and the justice system.

Learn More:

Ministry of Justice B.C. Sheriff Service: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/sheriffs/index.htm

Justice Institute of BC Sheriff Academy:http://www.jibc.ca/programs-courses/schools-departments/school-public-safety-security/sheriff-academy

Contact:

Lauren Mulholland
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 889-3922