The Sheriff | Staff| Administration | Functions of the Sheriff's Office| Administration of the Juries Act | Criminal court sittings | Sheriff's officer functions | Court orderly service | Court security service | Prisoner security service | Service and execution of civil processes| Admiralty jurisdiction | High Court of Australia | Federal Court of Australia | History | Location | Opening times | Contact details
The Sheriff is a statutory officer appointed pursuant to the Sheriff's Act on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The duties of the Sheriff are varied and wide-ranging in the provision of services to the courts and the community.
There are approximately 50 permanent officers and 80 casual personnel employed by the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office is a separate division of the Courts Administration Authority with the Divisional Head being the Sheriff. The Sheriff is a member of the Executive Management Committee of the Courts Administration Authority, which is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and decisions made by the Courts Administration Council.
Functions of the Sheriff’s Office
Administration of the Juries Act
The jury system is part of our democratic process and is fundamental to the administration of justice. In performing jury service, members of the community are participating in a process that has been responsible for protecting the rights of people for hundreds of years.
According to the Juries Act , persons aged between 18 and 70 years of age, who are on the electoral roll and reside within a declared jury district, are eligible for jury service. A jury consists of 12 people chosen by ballot conducted in open court. Jurors in South Australia officiate at criminal trials only. The Sheriff is empowered to provide jury panels for the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court and District Court. This includes preparation of annual jury lists for jury districts, jury summonses and questionnaires, determining applications for deferral and excusal, maintenance of records and payment of jurors fees. For more information on the jury system, click here.
The Supreme Court and District Court preside in their criminal jurisdiction at Adelaide and circuit sessions are conducted at Port Augusta and Mount Gambier. In addition to jury management, the Sheriff is responsible for the production of prisoners to the criminal courts, enforcement of sentences and the payment of witness fees.
Both the Supreme Court and District Court have jurisdiction to deal with offences ranging from false pretences, assaults, shopbreaking, housebreaking and up to the more serious offences of armed robbery, rape, manslaughter and crimes which can carry a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment. Only the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to deal with the most serious offences of murder and treason and attempted murder or treason.
Sheriff's officers are employed to provide a court orderly service to the criminal sittings of all courts throughout the State, including Magistrates Courts. These officers keep order within the courtroom and attend to the needs of witnesses and other persons having business before the courts. Sheriff's officers performing court orderly duties in the Supreme Court and District Court criminal sittings also maintain the welfare and security of jurors involved on criminal trials. Sheriff's officers are multiskilled to perform court orderly, court security and prisoner security duties.
Sheriff's officers provide a protective security service to all court precincts in the Adelaide central business district and to metropolitan courts at Port Adelaide, Christies Beach, Holden Hill and Elizabeth. Sheriff’s officers also conduct point of entry searches at these locations. Sheriff’s officers at country court locations provide a security presence which is upgraded on a risk assessment basis from metropolitan staff. In addition to the asset and personal security service provided, the Sheriff's Office also provides a consultancy service on general security matters to the Authority. Sheriff's officers are multiskilled to perform court orderly, court security and prisoner security duties.
Sheriff's officers provide a custodial prisoner security service for the operation of the Supreme Court and District Court criminal sittings within the Sir Samuel Way Building. This service provides for the safe, secure and humane containment of persons in custody appearing before the courts. Sheriff's officers are multiskilled to perform court orderly, court security and prisoner security duties.
In December 1996 the South Australian Government awarded a contract for Prisoner Movement and In-Court Management in all courts excluding the Supreme Court and District Court in Adelaide to a private contractor. The Sheriff is the responsible officer for the enforcement of the orders of the court and is therefore responsible to the Courts Administration Authority for the proper conduct of the contractor and its staff whilst performing court related tasks. All contractor staff are appointed as Sheriff’s officers for the purpose of the contract.
Service and execution of civil processes
Sheriff's enforcement officers are appointed for the service and execution of civil processes throughout the State, including processes issued from interstate, overseas and South Australian courts. In the execution of warrants, pursuant to the orders of the courts, the Sheriff may be required to arrest persons, seize and sell goods or real estate or obtain possession of land. The Sheriff is also responsible for the service and execution of processes issued from the Fines Payment Unit (FPU). The Sheriff manages the enforcement of fines and other monetary sums imposed by courts and legislation within South Australia. For information on paying fines, click here .
The Sheriff is also the Marshal in Admiralty and has power to arrest ships pursuant to orders of the Supreme Court sitting in its Admiralty jurisdiction. Such orders may relate to debts for essential ships provisions and bunker fuel. Where necessary, the Marshal may be required to arrange for the sale of ships and cargo.
The Sheriff holds an appointment of Marshal for the enforcement of orders issued by the High Court of Australia, within the State of South Australia.
The Sheriff holds an appointment of Deputy Sheriff of the Federal Court of Australia within South Australia and executes orders of that court.
The office of the Sheriff has evolved throughout English history and can be traced back for over 1,000 years. The duties have altered over the centuries, but it is still true to say that the primary function of the Sheriff is to enforce the orders of the superior courts. For more information on the history of the Sheriff's Office, click here.
The Sheriff’s Office is located on the lower ground floor in the Sir Samuel Way Building, on the south-west corner of Victoria Square, Adelaide.
Hours of business are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Mail:
GPO Box 798 Adelaide, South Australia, 5001
Telephone: 61 8 8204 0149
Facsimile: 61 8 8204 0162
E-mail: sheriff@courts.sa.gov.au
Sheriff: 61 8 8204 0149
Deputy Sheriff: 61 8 8204 0149
Manager, Sheriff’s Officers - Central: 61 8 8204 0125
Manager, Sheriff’s Officers - Regional: 61 8 8204 0584
Manager, Jury Operations: 61 8 8204 0156
Manager, Enforcement: 61 8 8204 0157
Criminal Court Co-ordinator: 61 8 8204 0159
Adelaide Jury Message Toll Free Number: 1 800 005 063
Mt Gambier Jury Message Toll Free Number: 1 800 017 120
Pt Augusta Jury Message Toll Free Number: 1 800 018 120
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