Deputy Sheriff Bailiff (Open)

Summary

Are you an experienced peace officer? The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking current peace officers for the position of Deputy Sheriff Bailiff.

Under general supervision, Deputy Sheriff Bailiffs maintain courtroom order and security during trials, enforce courtroom rules of behavior, and oversee the transportation of incarcerated individuals, alongside other law enforcement and crime prevention tasks as assigned. They focus primarily on bailiff duties, contrasting with Deputy Sheriffs who handle a broader range of law enforcement responsibilities such as crime investigation, area patrolling, detainee supervision and transportation, and public safety.

This is NOT an ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION.

Successful candidates must have experience as a peace officer and must possess a valid California Basic POST Certificate. The Basic Certificate is awarded to current full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency that have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite Basic Course requirement and the employing agency's probationary period. A copy of a valid California Basic POST Certificate or Basic Course Waiver Letter must be attached to the application.

California Basic POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Certificate - The Basic Certificate is awarded, as defined in Regulation 1012, to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite Basic Course requirement and the employing agency's probationary period.

Out-of-state applicants: Completion of the Basic Course Waiver process is an option for meeting California's Regular Basic Course training requirement for out-of-state applicants. An individual must successfully complete the entire four-step Basic Course Waiver (BCW) process to obtain a waiver. To begin or learn more about the Basic Course Wavier process, please visit

As a Bailiff, you will be responsible for:

• Maintaining security and order in the courtroom and court premises.
• Preserving order among participants and spectators during court proceedings.
• Enforcing courtroom rules of behavior.
• Escort the jury to and from areas outside the courtroom and acting as a liaison for jurors during court sessions and deliberations.
• Preparing incarcerated persons for court and release, escorting them to and from court, and guarding them while in court.
• Assisting judges as needed.
• Calling participants to the stand.
• Providing information to the public and participants during court proceedings regarding court procedures, customs, and regulations.
• Collecting and retaining unauthorized firearms, weapons, and other contraband from persons entering the courtroom.
• Possibly physically restraining incarcerated persons.
• Potentially arresting individuals violating laws during proceedings.
• Possibly testifying in court.
• Serving legal papers such as subpoenas, summonses, complaints, writs of attachment, execution, and restitution.
• Supervising incarcerated persons at detention facilities and in court holding areas.
• Transporting jail inmates when security requires an armed peace officer.
• Preparing crime and/or incident reports.
• Serving arrest and bench warrants.
• Preparing records and reports relating to the business of the courts and/or the Sheriff's Office.
• Performing related duties as assigned.

NOTE: This job announcement was amended on March 23, 2026, to update the Skills and Abilities section.

Education and Experience:

Education: A high school graduate or passing the General Education Development (GED) test or other high school equivalency test approved by CDE, or completion of at least 60 college units from an accredited or approved institution to apply.

Certificate: As required by the State of California, incumbents at this level must possess a valid California Basic POST Certificate.

Knowledge of:

• Civil laws, codes, ordinances, and recent court decisions.
• Principles and practices of law enforcement, criminal investigation, and basic psychology.
• Rules of evidence, laws of arrest and court procedure.

Skill/Ability to:

• Apply principles and techniques of community organization.
• Speak effectively to diverse audiences, including client, professional, civic and citizen groups.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other program managers and staff, other agencies, and the community; enlist and mobilize community support for programs.
• Prepare complex and detailed written reports, program policies, and procedures.
• Speak, read, and write fluently in English.

Licensure:

• Possession of a Class C California driver license or equivalent.

Other Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age per P.O.S.T and AB-89 Peace Officers: Minimum Qualifications.
• Refrain from using tobacco products at any time for employees hired by the County after October 1, 2004.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time.

Qualified candidates will be notified of the date, time and place of the examinations. Subsequent phases of the selection process include a psychological evaluation, polygraph test, and medical examination. The Sheriff's Office will conduct final interviews with candidates who pass all required tests and evaluations. Fina

Job Description

Are you an experienced peace officer? The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is seeking current peace officers for the position of Deputy Sheriff Bailiff.

Under general supervision, Deputy Sheriff Bailiffs maintain courtroom order and security during trials, enforce courtroom rules of behavior, and oversee the transportation of incarcerated individuals, alongside other law enforcement and crime prevention tasks as assigned. They focus primarily on bailiff duties, contrasting with Deputy Sheriffs who handle a broader range of law enforcement responsibilities such as crime investigation, area patrolling, detainee supervision and transportation, and public safety.

This is NOT an ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION.

Successful candidates must have experience as a peace officer and must possess a valid California Basic POST Certificate. The Basic Certificate is awarded to current full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency that have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite Basic Course requirement and the employing agency's probationary period. A copy of a valid California Basic POST Certificate or Basic Course Waiver Letter must be attached to the application.

California Basic POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Certificate - The Basic Certificate is awarded, as defined in Regulation 1012, to currently employed full-time peace officers of a POST-participating agency who have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite Basic Course requirement and the employing agency's probationary period.

Out-of-state applicants: Completion of the Basic Course Waiver process is an option for meeting California's Regular Basic Course training requirement for out-of-state applicants. An individual must successfully complete the entire four-step Basic Course Waiver (BCW) process to obtain a waiver. To begin or learn more about the Basic Course Wavier process, please visit

As a Bailiff, you will be responsible for:

• Maintaining security and order in the courtroom and court premises.
• Preserving order among participants and spectators during court proceedings.
• Enforcing courtroom rules of behavior.
• Escort the jury to and from areas outside the courtroom and acting as a liaison for jurors during court sessions and deliberations.
• Preparing incarcerated persons for court and release, escorting them to and from court, and guarding them while in court.
• Assisting judges as needed.
• Calling participants to the stand.
• Providing information to the public and participants during court proceedings regarding court procedures, customs, and regulations.
• Collecting and retaining unauthorized firearms, weapons, and other contraband from persons entering the courtroom.
• Possibly physically restraining incarcerated persons.
• Potentially arresting individuals violating laws during proceedings.
• Possibly testifying in court.
• Serving legal papers such as subpoenas, summonses, complaints, writs of attachment, execution, and restitution.
• Supervising incarcerated persons at detention facilities and in court holding areas.
• Transporting jail inmates when security requires an armed peace officer.
• Preparing crime and/or incident reports.
• Serving arrest and bench warrants.
• Preparing records and reports relating to the business of the courts and/or the Sheriff's Office.
• Performing related duties as assigned.

NOTE: This job announcement was amended on March 23, 2026, to update the Skills and Abilities section.

Education and Experience:

Education: A high school graduate or passing the General Education Development (GED) test or other high school equivalency test approved by CDE, or completion of at least 60 college units from an accredited or approved institution to apply.

Certificate: As required by the State of California, incumbents at this level must possess a valid California Basic POST Certificate.

Knowledge of:

• Civil laws, codes, ordinances, and recent court decisions.
• Principles and practices of law enforcement, criminal investigation, and basic psychology.
• Rules of evidence, laws of arrest and court procedure.

Skill/Ability to:

• Apply principles and techniques of community organization.
• Speak effectively to diverse audiences, including client, professional, civic and citizen groups.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other program managers and staff, other agencies, and the community; enlist and mobilize community support for programs.
• Prepare complex and detailed written reports, program policies, and procedures.
• Speak, read, and write fluently in English.

Licensure:

• Possession of a Class C California driver license or equivalent.

Other Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age per P.O.S.T and AB-89 Peace Officers: Minimum Qualifications.
• Refrain from using tobacco products at any time for employees hired by the County after October 1, 2004.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time.

Qualified candidates will be notified of the date, time and place of the examinations. Subsequent phases of the selection process include a psychological evaluation, polygraph test, and medical examination. The Sheriff's Office will conduct final interviews with candidates who pass all required tests and evaluations. Fina