Court Services

Court Services

The Chatham-Kent Police Court Services is a uniformed unit providing case management of all federal, criminal, provincial statues and municipal by-law charges laid by the Chatham-Kent Police Service.

Staff members are also required to facilitate Weekend and Statutory Court (W.A.S.H.) at Police Headquarters on weekend and holidays.

This unit also has the responsibility of providing court security for both court facilities in Chatham-Kent. Some of their responsibilities include:

• serve subpoenas and summons
• execute warrants
• execute DNA Orders
• case management

Personnel

Court Services typically comprises of one sergeant, five constables, nine special constables, and one administrative clerk.

The members of this unit provide the main interface between the Chatham-Kent Police Service and the court system. Court Services is staffed by a combination of members that includes Special Constables, administrative support staff and police officers.

Court Security

The Court Security Unit consisting of two Constables and up to nine Special Constables ensure the security of Justices, Judges, Justices of the Peace and all persons taking part in or attending court proceedings and the security of court buildings during the hours when the courts are operating.

The Unit provides professional care, custody and transportation of people who are in custody or are taken into custody during court proceedings.

Timely execution of warrants for parties in custody and the preparation of Judge’s Orders as required are also part of the Unit’s responsibilities.

Case Management

The Case Management unit consisting of one Constable and two administrative clerks liaise with the Crown Attorney, Court Administrator, Provincial Prosecutors, Probation Office and Victim/Witness Services, as well as other police and civilian agencies, with a view to ensuring that police charges are properly prepared and processed through the courts.

The Unit prepares Criminal and Provincial Offence Act Informations, obtains and serves copies of documents to prove charges and notifies and produces subpoenas for witnesses required for court and will cancel witnesses as required. Additionally, the Unit ensures that Crown Instructions for private complaints are prepared and they process Warrants for failure to appear in court.

Staff members are also responsible for scheduling court dates in an effort to minimize overtime expenses for off-duty police officers and help to ensure that accused persons appear in court when required.

 

Commonly asked questions…

• How many ‘tickets’ are issued in Chatham-Kent? – Approximately 20,000 a year.
• How many charges are laid in Chatham-Kent? – Approximately 6000 a year.
• How many prisoners does Court Services handle? – Approximately 2100 a year.
• Are these facilities handicapped accessible? – Yes

Both facilities were recently refurbished from existing county/township buildings. There is ample parking at both facilities. Smoking is prohibited at both facilities.

The Chatham-Kent Police Service reminds all persons attending Court to please bring your court related documents.