The Umatilla County Courthouse in Pendleton and the Stafford Hansell Government Center in Hermiston are the homes of the State Circuit Courts, Board of Commissioner’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, and many other vital county departments. Each day, in addition the numerous county and state employees who work in these locations, many of our citizens also visit these buildings to conduct their business. The Sheriff's Office, through its Court Security and Transport Unit (CSTU) works to ensure the safety, security and protection of all persons within the Umatilla County court system.

If you have been to court, you probably noticed that there are uniformed deputies in the building at all times. They work daily to maintain order in the courtrooms and to protect judges, their staff, jury members, and all participants in the proceedings. Often this means intercepting and removing individuals or items that could pose a threat to the peace, order, and integrity of the court.

The court security and transport program is also responsible for safely moving defendants between the jail and the courthouse as needed for court appearances. There are seven Umatilla County courtrooms (in two different cities) and the county jail can hold over 250 inmates at any given time. Some of these inmates are awaiting court appearances and others are serving local jail sentences. It takes tremendous coordination among court staff, court security staff, and regular jail staff to transport so many defendants from the jail at the right times to the right places for their hearings. Ensuring these functions run smoothly and safely is the responsibility of the Sheriff’s CSTU.

This unit is also responsible for transporting inmates to and from the Oregon State Hospital and for other medical services not offered in the jail. They also move inmates to and from other jails and detention facilities. Next time you visit the Umatilla County Courthouse(s), take a look around for our deputies. You can relax knowing that the Court Security and Transport Unit is working hard to protect the integrity of the courts and to ensure that you have a safe visit.