Alamance County OKs four new bailiff positions, leaves two reclassifications to sheriff

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners approved four new full-time bailiff positions and authorized the sheriff to reclassify up to two additional detention positions to bailiff roles, after a sustained presentation by the sheriff and court staff about a rapid expansion in court dockets.

The sheriff, speaking to the board, said the county will move to 15 regular operating courts next year, with a new district court judge, an added drug court and more HNI felony sessions. He said the change leaves current staffing stretched "to the point we are going to be short bailiffs," and asked for six full-time sworn bailiffs to avoid pulling patrol deputies from street duties into courtroom security.

Lieutenant McPherson of the court division described recent schedule changes that increased courtroom demand, including conversion of the jury lounge to a courtroom and HNI felony sessions now scheduled on multiple Wednesdays. "We've been short and it just magnified," McPherson said, noting instances when staff had to transfer dozens of inmates and leave only one bailiff in a busy courtroom.

County budget staff said the board could fund the positions by moving money from lapsed salaries already appropriated elsewhere in the sheriff—s budget, reducing the immediate need to increase the overall headcount. Crawford, the county budget director, told commissioners that recent hiring and sign-on bonuses have shifted hiring trends and that lapsed salaries could be reallocated to cover the positions in the short term.

Commissioners debated whether six new positions were necessary or if the county was double-counting court sessions; one commissioner suggested authorizing four new positions and making two additional reclassifications optional at the sheriff—s discretion. The board voted to approve that approach by voice vote.

The sheriff also sought additional sign-on bonuses for recruitment; staff said the county previously authorized bonuses for sworn and detention hires and would need board direction to extend or amend that policy to include bailiffs. Commissioners instructed staff to draft budget amendments and to keep the board updated on hiring progress and costs.

The board—s action directs staff to return with details on funding sources and to proceed with recruitment and vetting, which county staff said typically requires an eight-week background and medical/psychological process before new hires can begin.