Judicial Security 

The JSD is organized by two program areas, Judicial Operations and Judicial Services.

Judicial Operations is a collection of national programs within JSD lead by a Deputy Assistant Director that has oversight for the Office of Protective Operations and the Office of Protective Intelligence. Working together through resource and information sharing, these missions intertwine to create a synergy intended to ensure effective security of judicial officials, USMS personnel, prisoners and the visiting public. Judicial Operations utilizes a national network of operational personnel (Deputy U.S. Marshals) and physical security specialists to effectively manage personal and facility security issues around the globe.

Office of Protective Intelligence

The Office of Protective Intelligence (OPI) is comprised of Senior Inspectors, Intelligence Research Specialists and Program Analysts that provide guidance, oversight, and coordination to the district offices that investigate threats and inappropriate communications directed at the judiciary, U.S. Attorneys and other court officers. OPI supports the protective mission of the USMS by collecting, analyzing and disseminating information and protective intelligence in the form of threat assessments, briefings and information bulletins. In addition, OPI provides a 24/7 response capability through the newly constructed Threat Management Center. In fiscal year 2008, more than 1,270 threats and inappropriate communications against USMS protectees were investigated, analyzed, and assessed to determine the level of risk and potential for danger.

In FY 2008, the Office of Protective Intelligence:

• Provided Protective Investigations Training to 80 Deputy U.S. Marshals and Judicial Security Inspectors and 16 state and local officers.

• All of the training was conducted by experts from the USMS, U.S. Secret Service, and Diplomatic Security Service.

• Coordinated and provided guidance and oversight for more than 1,270 protective investigations.

• Produced intelligence products that included 13 alert notices, 35 information bulletins, 2 threat assessments and 210 foreign travel briefings.

Office of Protective Operations

The Office of Protective Operations (OPO) is comprised of Senior Inspectors and Program Analysts that provide security and protection, manage protective investigations, conduct threat assessments, gather and disseminate information and intelligence; all to ensure that justice can be administered without fear or coercion. These services are provided to all members of the Federal judiciary, the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, all U.S. Supreme Court Justices, the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys. On any given day, the USMS is responsible for safeguarding more than 2,000 sitting judges, and approximately 5,250 other court officials at over 400 court facilities throughout the United States and its territories. In fiscal year 2008, more than 1,270 threats/inappropriate communications against USMS protectees were investigated, analyzed, and assessed – some of which resulted in around-the-clock protective details.

On a daily basis, USMS personnel assigned to the Office of Protective Operations deploy state-of-the-art protective techniques, equipment, and counter measures. These skills and abilities are deployed in a proactive manner, but can assure rapid, thorough, and safe responses to almost any emergency situation, including a terrorist attack and natural disasters. Additionally, these skills and abilities allow for unobtrusive surveillance and protection during routine judicial security operations.

In FY 2008, the Office of Protective Operations:

• Coordinated and provided personnel and additional security resources for 323 protective details (outside of courthouses) to U.S. Supreme Court Justices, U.S Appellate Court, District Court and federal Magistrate Judges, and/or other members of the judicial system.

• Provided security services for 206 judicial conferences and other significant gatherings of members of the federal judiciary.

• Coordinated and provided personnel and additional security resources for 250 high-threat trials, including 41 terrorist trials.

• Coordinated and provided personnel and additional resources for 95 events for the Southwest Border Initiative.

National Center for Judicial Security

The USMS established the National Center for Judicial Security (NCJS) in fiscal year 2008. It is operated, staffed, and managed by employees and contractor staff of the Judicial Security Division (JSD). The NCJS is an active component within JSD. The future of the NCJS is providing educational, operational, and technical functionality to its customers. Each element will be designed to serve various needs of a national, and in some cases, and international constituency. It is proposed that the NCJS will provide a wide range of support and services to municipal, city, county, state, Federal, and international jurisdictions related to the security operations of their respective court systems and the protection of members of the judiciary and extended court family.

• NCJS Fellowship Brochure
• NCJS Fellowship Application

Office of Management and Administration

The Office of Management and Administration (OMA) serves as the center of expertise within the Judicial Security Division (JSD) to essentially manage the business processes of JSD by providing guidance and assistance to JSD staff to ensure that program areas meet directives from the JSD Assistant Director. The OMA is led by two Assistant Chiefs that report to the Deputy Assistant Director.

The OMA staff coordinates the majority of the personnel, budget, finance, procurement, employee development and training initiatives, property accountability, fleet management, special projects, congressional and departmental correspondence, audit and inspection functions, strategic planning, records management, information technology, data systems, and other related business functions.

The OMA has played a significant role in reshaping the JSD’s image regarding responsiveness, communications, correspondence goals, and products meant for JSD’s internal and external customers.

Judicial Services is a national program in the Judicial Security Division led by a Deputy Assistant Director that has oversight for programs funded by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) court security appropriation. The funding provides for the Court Security Officer (CSO) program, security equipment and systems for space occupied by the judiciary and for U.S. Marshals Service employees to administer the daily functions. The Judicial Services is separated into four oversight areas: the Office of Court Security is responsible for the daily operations and personnel management of the CSO program, the Office of Security Contracts performs the daily contract responsibilities with the private contractors and the district Contract Officer Technical Representatives, the Office of Security Systems is responsible for all security and monitoring systems for judicial space, and the Office of Financial Management has the daily oversight responsibility of a $335 million budget.

Office of Court Security

The Office of Court Security (OCS) has primary responsibility for ensuring that the CSOs protect the judiciary and court family – as well as thousands of jurors, attorneys and visitors entering court facilities across the nation. The OCS determines resource needs and develops and enhances program operations and contract requirements for the CSOs. The OCS also provides day-to-day operational guidance to U.S. Marshals Service senior management officials in each district office.

Currently, more than 4,800 CSOs with certified law enforcement experience are deployed at more than 400 court facilities in the United States and its territories. All CSOs are required to pass a comprehensive screening process to ensure that specific background, physical, medical and weapons qualifications standards are met.

Office of Security Contracts

The Office of Security Contracts provides acquisition support to the Judicial Security Division primarily in the area of court security. This office is responsible for the full range of acquisition functions for security services, equipment, systems and maintenance.

The bulk of acquisitions performed in this office is related to the CSO Program. Contracts are awarded to each of the twelve Judicial Circuits for court security services to be performed in all 94 Judicial Districts. An interagency agreement between the AOUSC provides funding and contracting authority for the CSO security services. It is estimated that the value of the contracts for these services will exceed $250 million per fiscal year.

The second major contracting function of OSC is the support of the Office of Security Systems which is responsible for the physical security of the U.S. Courts through the installation and maintenance of security equipment and systems. The OSC has established a nationwide contract for installation of new equipment and security systems in renovated and newly constructed facilities.

The third area of contracting support provided by OSC is in the Home Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) Program through the Office of Courthouse Management. Under the HIDS Program, commercial available home alarm systems and centralized monitoring are procured for Federal Judicial participants residents.

OSC provides contractual support for other services, supplies and equipment related to the overall operation of JSD. These are primarily delivery orders (against GSA Schedule), purchase orders and credit card purchases. Most of the funding used in contracts for OSC is AOUSC related funding.

Office of Security Systems

The Office of Security Systems (OSS) is responsible for all aspects of electronic and physical security system budgeting, design, installation, construction, maintenance and service for the Federal judiciary. OSS facilitates security planning with all court offices, security committees and Federal agencies, for a comprehensive and coordinated security approach.

OSS is responsible for security equipment at nearly 900 court facilities throughout the United States and its territories. The OSS Physical Security Program is one of the largest centrally managed physical security programs in the Federal government. Other Federal, state and local agencies look to OSS for managerial and technical guidance. The OSS integrated security approach has been so successful that Congress initiated, through annual budget legislation, a Pilot Project directing the USMS to take over perimeter security activities and responsibilities from the Federal Protective Service at seven pilot locations.

Office of Financial Management

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) is responsible for all budget and financial aspects of the resources made available for the efficient and effective operation of the Judicial Facility Security Program and has daily oversight responsibility of a $342.3 million budget in 2008. Each year, the USMS receives funding by transfer from the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) for the purpose of implementing a court program at Federal courthouses throughout the country. This funding, designated as the 0930 appropriation is utilized to:

• Award and monitor nationwide contracts for over 4,700 court security officers (CSO’s)

• Provide for the installation of security systems and equipment in facilities occupied by Judicial Branch entities.

• Cover a portion of the USMS expenses to administer these efforts.