From the time the first offender was arrested in Kern County, the Sheriff has always been faced with the task of transporting prisoners. Whether to court, medical appointments, other institutions or from other jurisdictions, prisoner transportation has always been an element of the Sheriff’s duties. The presence of the Sheriff has also long been required in the courts to provide a safe and secure atmosphere for the dispensing of justice. Not much has changed over the years in the way these duties are performed, except the volume of prisoners, the number of courts, institutions, and facilities, and the modes of travel.

The Metropolitan (formerly Superior) Court Unit provides bailiffs to the Metro Courts and the Juvenile Justice Center Courts of Kern County. In addition to the bailiffs, the unit employs a staff of court guards.

The Justice (formerly Municipal) Court Unit provides bailiffs, deck officers and guards in the Justice Court facilities throughout Kern County.

The Transportation Unit duties are varied daily. Deputies can be assigned one of more that 45 assignments that include transportation of inmates to medical appointments, local and outlying Municipal Courts and inter-state extraditions. The Transportation Unit works closely with other counties to exchange prisoner transportation from the north to the south of the state.

Two specialized teams of deputies are also a part of the Courts & Transportation Division.

The first team is charged with the duty of guarding all State of California inmates that are ordered to appear in the various courts in Kern County.

Another specialized team within the Courts Services Unit is the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT). This team was developed in 1988 and is used primarily for major disturbances or riots within the detentions facilities, but can be used outside the facility in the event of civil unrest or mutual aid requests.