Transfer / Court Security

Comprised of twenty-seven deputies, one sergeant, and one lieutenant, the KCSD Court Security & Transfer Unit is responsible for the production at court of all in-custody inmates within Kent County. The officers serve not only 17th Circuit Court and 63rd District Court, but handle in-custody defendants and witnesses for preliminary examinations in 61st District Grand Rapids, 62nd A & B Wyoming and Kentwood, and 59th Grandville and Walker. In 2010, approximately 9,000 in-custody subjects were transferred to court appearances. Though this unit, the sheriff department also provides a law enforcement presence at the Kent County owned building at 82 Ionia NW.

Deputies transported 1685 persons to or from state prisons, mental health facilities, youth correctional institutions and county jails throughout the state in 2010. They were also directly responsible for nine of the 28 extraditions of defendants wanted by law enforcement within Kent County. Medical, dental, and psychological appointments for in-custody persons are also facilitated by the Court Security & Transfer deputies. Last year, 203 in-custody persons, including juveniles, were transported for medical, dental, or psychological appointments.

Assisting the Court Security & Transfer deputies are a group of 30 part-time officers that comprise the Security Enforcement Officer Unit. These officers provide building security for the Kent County Courthouse, 63rd. District Courts, 82 Ionia NW, and Juvenile Detention Center. Last year these officers were responsible for screening 1,345,715 persons entering the Kent County Courthouse, 63rd District Court and 82 Ionia. In order to keep the buildings safe, they confiscated 13,520 potential weapons from persons being screened at security checkpoints.