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Sheriffs seek fee increases for civil process to cover higher costs, training and safety equipment
Summary
County sheriffs and chief deputies told the joint committee that civil process fees have not been updated in decades and requested that H1582/S1183 be reported favorably. They said fee revenue funds local, segregated accounts used to run civil-process divisions (service of papers, evictions) and to pay for body cameras, tactical gear and social-
Representatives of the Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association and individual county sheriff offices urged the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to advance H1582/S1183, bills that update the statutory fee schedule for service of civil process.
Witnesses said the fee structure under chapter 262, section 8, has remained largely unchanged since the early 2000s while operational costs have risen sharply. Chief deputies and civil-process leaders described increased safety risks during evictions, the need for tactical gear and vehicles, and recent investments in body-worn cameras and social-service staff who accompany deputies to aid people facing eviction. Those costs, they said, are paid from locally maintained, segregated fee revenues collected for civil-process services.
Robert Hoffman, a civil-process chief, described a modest proposed increase to standard service and in-hand delivery fees and said the change would help sheriff departments sustain operations and provide safety equipment and trainings. Edward Myers of the Bristol County Sheriff's Office said updates to discretionary fees previously drew no public backlash and helped fund a body camera program.
Committee members asked how much revenue offices currently collect and where the funds are held. Witnesses gave examples: Hampden County reported about $1.8 million in civil-process revenue and about 36,000 papers served per year; other counties reported annual revenues under $1.0 million. Witnesses said the proposed increases would yield modest additional revenue used solely for the civil-process function and related safety and social-service efforts.
No vote was taken at the hearing.
