History and Functions
Court Services
The Circuit Court of Maryland was founded in Common Law, and Maryland's Constitution requires the Sheriff to serve at the pleasure of the Courts. Therefore, the Harford County Sheriff's Office is responsible for the security of the court and the execution of all court ordered documents.
Members of the Sheriff's Office, assigned to Court Services, are responsible for the execution of court ordered documents, issued yearly by both the Circuit and District Courts of Maryland. These civil and criminal documents include: arrest warrants, summons, subpoenas, body attachments, support enforcement warrants, ex-parte orders, Writs of Execution, Emergency Petitions, possession and replevin orders. These documents make up but a few of the 50,000 papers served annually on Harford County residents. Sheriff's deputies also serve, where applicable, out of state process and accompanying affidavits. The Court Services Division has a 91% success rate of service of all court documents given to the Sheriff's Office.
Protecting the Courts
The Sheriff's Office provides protection to five Circuit Court judges, their staff, and approximately 100 employees who occupy the Circuit Court building. Walk- through metal detectors, county government badge identifications, portable hand-held scanners and deputies trained to detect potential threats to life and property, ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for persons conducting business at the courthouse. Furthermore, the deputies stand by during criminal and civil proceedings, providing security and supervision of prisoners during the hearing.
Training
In operation for over twenty years, the Sheriff's Office Training Academy, located on the campus of the Harford Community College, is a fully staffed, fully accredited police/correctional training facility. Police and correctional officer in- service, and recruit level training is provided yearly to several hundred officers. The Sheriff's Office has self-imposed a minimum of forty hours of in-service per year for all certified personnel. Even though several courses such as firearms and emergency care are required, the remaining hours can be made up of courses selected by the officer. The curriculum is college oriented, with each officer being given a course catalog and the opportunity to select from a variety of training classes. Instructors from inside and outside the agency serve as adjunct faculty for such courses as defensive tactics, hostage negotiations, cultural diversity, child abuse and sex crimes, state and constitutional law, criminal investigations and police patrol functions, to name a few.