Chief Tim Jones, chief of courthouse security for the Smith County Sheriff's Office, told commissioners during the budget workshop that the office is requesting eight new bailiff positions, one courthouse security sergeant and two vehicles to staff the county's larger, incoming courthouse.

Jones said the increase is driven by a planned courthouse that will expand from about 50,000 square feet to more than 270,000 square feet and by higher screening volumes. "We're requesting for 8 additional bailiffs," Jones told the court, adding the split would be "five for the district courts and three for the county courts." He said the goal is to have two bailiffs assigned to each courtroom so one deputy is not left alone when an in-court arrest or other duty requires leaving the interior barrier.

Why it matters: courthouse security deputies perform courtroom safety, inmate transport coordination, arrest paperwork, juror protection and identification of high-risk proceedings. Jones said the new main entrance will operate two x-ray machines and two walk-through metal detectors, and that the building will include expanded offices and holding facilities that increase the security workload.

Budget details Jones provided: courthouse security deputies (10 positions total requested elsewhere in the sheriff's presentation) were shown at $573,330 ("that's without benefits," Jones said). A courthouse security sergeant position was listed at $81,045. Two vehicles with upfitting and related costs were estimated at $165,792. Jones said the deputies requested for typical courthouse security would be on an entry-grade classification; he described the sergeant as a higher-grade supervisory hire.

Commissioners asked about total cost and secondary expenses. Commissioner Moore said he wanted to see the "full enchilada" of costs including onboarding, IT and training. Jones replied that some uniform and equipment costs are already in other law-enforcement budgets and that a separate courthouse-security division would allow clearer breakout of those additional costs.

Operational questions: commissioners asked whether bailiff assignments could be adjusted by courtroom usage. Jones said two bailiffs per courtroom is the target but acknowledged not every courtroom will be in session every day and that supervisors would reassign trained bailiffs as needed. Jones also said judges had been part of the request: "They were, part of it. Yes, ma'am," he said when asked who had requested the two-per-court model.

Discussion vs. action: the commissioners did not take a formal vote; the request was presented as part of the FY-26 budget discussion. Commissioners asked for additional line-item detail and timing tied to the courthouse completion, which Jones said is currently projected for fall 2026 and that hiring should begin about four months before opening for training and onboarding.

Clarifying details: the office cited a 2024 statewide courthouse incident report that Jones summarized as a 142% increase in incidents year-over-year. Jones listed specific proposed staffing: eight additional bailiffs (five district, three county), one courthouse security sergeant, and two vehicles; the deputy package shown: $573,330 (salary-only) for courthouse security deputies; sergeant $81,045; vehicles/upfitting $165,792. Jones recommended hiring ahead of the courthouse opening to allow training.