Prince George, B.C. – A group of new deputy sheriffs is being deployed throughout the province  to protect courthouses and justice system participants.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton says the 12 new recruits will serve  courthouses in Prince George, Fort St. John, Quesnel, Kamloops, Terrace, Williams Lake, Dawson Creek, Vernon and Cranbrook. One additional recruit will be based out of New Westminster and will serve several courthouses in the Lower Mainland.

The deputy sheriffs are specifically trained to uphold the security of courthouses and the safety of court users, and have completed an intensive 16-week Sheriff Recruit Training program at the Justice Institute of BC in New Westminster. The program included both in-class and field training at courthouses.

The primary responsibilities of sheriffs are:

• 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 new recruits join an existing complement of approximately 495 sheriffs serving throughout the province.