(Manatee) Circuit & County Criminal Divisions

Inmate Transport Requests Information Sheet

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Judicial Security Section

Updated February 26, 2024

Intent

To clarify who is responsible for ordering inmates from the Manatee County Central Jail for Court Appearances and Video.

Background

Historically, it has been an attorney’s responsibility to contact the Judicial Security Section to have inmates transported and dressed for appearance at the Judicial Center/Court. In addition, all inmate clothes are to be delivered by an attorney to the Manatee County Central Jail. No delivery by family members. This practice will remain. However, JSS in effort to provide the best possible inmate appearance percentage, has been checking and re­-checking 100 and 250 inmate appearance requests per day. This labor-intensive practice cannot continue.

Definitions

Attorney: Member in good standing with The Florida Bar with an active bar number.
Requesting Attorney: Member in good standing with The Florida Bar with an active bar number and with some legal connection to the case. This role can be filled by an employee of a requesting attorney’s office.
Daily Lists: The Daily Lists are those dockets prepared via the JACS system and/or Judges’ office. Daily Lists include but not limited to: Motions, Sentencing, Uncharged Defendant’s, Status Conferences and Competency Hearings.
JSS: Judicial Security Section formerly known as Bailiff’s Office.
ORC: Office of Regional Counsel
PD: Public Defender

Inmate Requests

Inmates whose presence is required in court will be secured as follows:

Felony

1. Felony Arraignments: Inmates are not required to appear in person or by video for Arraignments. If a Defense Attorney/Public Defender’s Office is requesting an inmate appear by video they must contact the JA for approval.
2. Felony Case Management: The JSS will secure the presence of all inmates who appear as “in jail” on the Clerk’s Docket. Any changes to the defendant’s jail status shall be provided by a ”Requesting Attorney” in accordance with the General Rules.
3. Felony Docket Sounding: The Defense Attorney (Public Defender, ORC, Private Attorney) shall be responsible for providing notice if a client is needed for court in accordance with the the General Rules.
4. Felony mini docket/trial scheduling: The Defense Attorney shall be responsible for providing notice if an inmate is needed for court in accordance with the General Rules and Judge’s requirements. (Some judges call this court session ‘trial scheduling’ and do not require defendants’ presence.)
5. Felony Trials: The Judge’s JA will provide a trial list to JSS and indicate which defendants are in jail. It is the attorney’s responsibility to have the inmate dressed for trial and the clothes taken to the jail not brought to court the same day as the trial.
6. Felony VOP Conferences/VOP hearings (ECR): The JSS will secure the presence of those inmates who appear as “in jail” on the clerk’s docket. Any changes to a defendant’s jail status shall be provided by a “Requesting Attorney” in accordance with the General Rules.
7. Felony Motions and Hearings (JA Daily Lists): The JSS will secure the presence of all inmates listed who have a “yes” next to jail on the daily list provided by the JA. It shall be the responsibility of the “Requesting Attorney”, when selecting time on JACS, to indicate if the inmate is in jail at the time of scheduling. Any changes to a defendant’s jail status shall be provided by a “Requesting Attorney” in accordance with the General Rules.
8. Pre-Trial Detention Review: The JSS will secure the presence of all inmates listed on the Clerk’s docket.
9. Drug Court: The Public Defender’s office shall provide a list to JSS by 3:00 p.m. the day before the inmates are required to appear in court. If the defendant is represented by a Private Attorney, the attorney shall request the defendant’s presence through the Public Defender’s Office.
10. ECC: The Judge’s JA will provide a list to JSS indicating which inmates need to be transported for court. If an attorney is requesting an inmate be transported that is not on the JA’s list, they must contact the JA for approval.
11. CTC: The Public Defender’s office shall provide a list to JSS by 3:00 p.m. the day before the inmates are required to appear in court. If the defendant is represented by a Private Attorney, the attorney shall request the defendant’s presence through the Public Defender’s Office.
12. TYLA: The Public Defender’s office shall provide a list to JSS by 3:00 p.m. the day before the inmates are required to appear in court. If the defendant is represented by a Private Attorney, the attorney shall request the defendant’s presence through the Public Defender’s Office.

Misdemeanors

1. Misdemeanors: The Judge’s JA will provide a list to JSS indicating which inmates need to appear by video for court. If an attorney is requesting an inmate to appear by video for court that is not on the JA’s list, they must contact the JA for approval in accordance with the General Rules for: Arraignments, Pre-Trial Conferences, Docket Sounding, or any other court proceeding that requires the inmate to appear by video for court. If an inmate is needed to appear in person, approval must be obtained from the Judge’s office for the transport. Any changes to a defendant’s jail status shall be provided by a “Requesting Attorney” in accordance with the General Rules.
2. Trials: The Defense Attorney or Public Defender’s Office shall continue to request the presence of all inmates who are needed for trial. These requests must be done no later than 3:00 PM on the Friday before the trial. It is the “Requesting Attorney”s responsibility to request that the inmate be “Dressed for Trial” and the clothes must be taken to the jail.
3. All Other Inmates: Any other inmates, whose presence is required in court, shall be secured by a “Requesting Attorney” in compliance with the General Rules.

General Rules

These rules apply at all times:

1. All requests for the court appearance of an inmate shall be made no later than 3:00 p.m. on the regular, business day prior to the court appearance. Attorneys should check the court’s holiday schedule to ensure requests made around holidays are timely.
2. Requesting an inmate for a court appearance is done through email, JudicialSecurity@manateesheriff.com. If you do not receive a read receipt back from your email request, contact Judicial Security at 941–747–3011 ext. 7963. Telephone calls alone are not acceptable.
3. No inmate shall be brought to court if they do not appear on a Clerk’s Docket, Daily List and/or has no business before a Judge. There will be no transportation of an inmate for attorney/client conferences.
4. Any inmate transport request received after 3:00 pm on Friday or any time over the weekend/holiday will not be seen until Monday at 8:00 am or the next business day. If you need an inmate on a Monday, the request must be made by the previous Friday before 3:00pm.
5. For security reasons, MCSO personnel at the Judicial Center are not permitted to change inmate clothing once at the judicial center.

Felony Inmate Request Quick Reference

February 26, 2024