Description

MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT

Invites registrants for:

COURT OFFICER EXAMINATION

Exam Information

Registration: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – Friday, December 13, 2024.

Testing Window: Monday, January 6, 2025 – Friday, January 24, 2025

Location: Pearson VUE testing center or virtually through the OnVue testing service.

The week of December 16, 2024, candidates will receive an email with a link to book a time, date, and location through Pearson VUE.

Exam Fee: $100

Fee Waiver Deadline: Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Reasonable Exam Accommodation Deadline: Friday, December 13, 2024

Prior Exams: Individuals who successfully passed the December 2023 Court Officer Entrance Exam are NOT required to take this exam. However, all applicants must complete the Physical Abilities Test and fulfill other hiring requirements outlined in this announcement and in accordance with Trial Court policy.

Study Guide: An orientation and preparation guide will be available for all confirmed exam registrants in the I/O Solutions dashboard at no extra charge. Please note that I/O Solutions and the Massachusetts Trial Court do not endorse or recommend any additional study guides. You can access the study guide after registration by going to https://iosolutions.com/membership-login/, and entering the email and password you used to register. Once you log in, you’ll be directed to “My Account” and the study guide will be under “Purchased Online Products”.

Exam Description

State law requires the passing of this exam to be eligible to apply for Court Officer positions. Individuals who do not take and pass this exam will be ineligible for Court Officer positions until another Court Officer exam is offered. Registrants must pay a $100 exam fee to sit for the exam. Fee waivers and reasonable accommodations are available for eligible candidates.

Individuals who pass the Court Officer Exam will receive information about the next steps in the hiring process for Court Officer positions. However, passing the exam does not guarantee an interview. Candidates who apply for a Court Officer position after successfully completing the exam must also meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for appointment. Please note that, due to the expected high volume of qualified applicants, those selected for interviews typically exceed the minimum qualifications.

Exam Overview

Registration: All registrations must be submitted by the specified deadlines and include the exam processing fee. You will receive a confirmation email once your registration is complete; your registration will not be considered finalized until you receive this confirmation. All further information regarding the exam will be sent to you via email. Please make sure to regularly check the email address you provided during registration for important updates about the upcoming exam.

Your exam processing fee of $100 must be paid by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2024. If you do not register and pay by this deadline, your registration will not be processed, and you will not be eligible to take the exam. Candidates who successfully register will receive an email from

in**@io*********.com

during the week of December 16, 2024, containing specific instructions for scheduling an appointment with Pearson VUE. Additionally, an orientation and preparation guide will be available immediately in the I/O Solutions dashboard at no extra cost for all confirmed exam registrants.

Fee Waiver: The exam fee may be waived for registrants receiving certain state or federal public assistance or unemployment insurance. A link to the fee waiver form can be found at the Massachusetts Trial Court Request for Waiver of the 2025 Court Officer Exam Fee. Please follow the instructions on the form for proper submission of the Fee Waiver Form and supporting documentation. All fee waiver forms must be scanned and emailed to

ex***@ju*.us

by Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Reasonable Exam Accommodations: If you wish to request a reasonable accommodation for the exam due to a documented impairment, you must first successfully register online for the exam and then complete an Exam Accommodation Form. You can find the link to the form at Massachusetts Trial Court Request for a Reasonable Accommodation for the 2025 Court Officer Exam. Additionally, you will need to submit a letter of support from a qualified professional outlining the specific accommodations you are requesting at the exam site. Please be sure to follow the instructions on the Exam Accommodation Form for the proper submission of both the form and the supporting documentation.

All Exam Accommodation Forms and supporting documentation must be emailed to

ex***@ju*.us

by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. If your documentation is not received by this deadline, we cannot guarantee that your accommodation will be granted. Please note that this information is collected solely to provide reasonable accommodations for the exams and will not be used for any other purposes.

Current Military Personnel: All military personnel with orders indicating unavailability due to service on the exam date must register for the exam, pay the processing fee, and submit a written request for a makeup exam, including a copy of your military orders.

Military related requests must be emailed to:

ex***@ju*.us

by Friday, December 13, 2024.

When submitting your request, please include an email address, your daytime base phone number, and the name and phone number of a trusted friend or family member with whom you maintain regular contact. Note: Only candidates who have registered and submitted the exam processing fee or Fee Waiver Form by the registration deadline will be eligible for a military makeup exam.

No Makeup Exam: Except for current military personnel, no candidate is entitled to a makeup exam due to personal or professional conflicts on the testing date. Candidates are encouraged to review this policy before applying for the exam. If you have registered and then experience a personal emergency or unforeseen hardship, you may request a makeup exam by submitting a written request with verifiable documentation to

ex***@ju*.us

. Note: Previously scheduled vacation plans do not qualify as a personal emergency, unforeseen hardship, or valid reason for a makeup exam.

Makeup exam requests must be submitted within 7 calendar days following the scheduled exam date. The Trial Court reserves the right to approve or deny your request and may require an additional exam processing fee upon approval.

Identification at the time of Exam: Candidates must present current and valid photo identification with signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, military ID).

Change of Personal Information: Candidates are responsible for keeping their contact information—such as address, email, and phone number—up to date with the Trial Court. Failing to maintain accurate records and notify us at

ex***@ju*.ma

.us may jeopardize your employment opportunities.

Refunds: There will be NO REFUNDS of the exam processing fee unless the Trial Court cancels the exam.

During the Trial Court review process or during the life of this candidate pool, candidates must make original supporting documentation available should the issue of authenticity arise with any submitted document copies.

Examples of Essential Duties for Court Officer

Please review the examples of essential duties and minimum requirements for this position before registering for the Court Officer Exam.

The court officer is responsible for maintaining order in and around court premises, protecting judges, jurors, witnesses, prisoners, court personnel, and the public who utilize Massachusetts Trial Court buildings and facilities. A Court Officer provides a visual security presence at court entrances/security screening stations and throughout the building; screens persons who wish to enter court buildings for weapons and other items of contraband; operates metal detectors and x-ray machines to perform the screening functions; monitors CCTV cameras to ensure safety of the public, court employees and prisoners; protects and safeguards courtrooms, grounds, buildings, employees, jurors, the public, and visitors on the courthouse premises.

The court officer is responsible for the care, custody, and control of all prisoners and persons taken into custody and held at a court facility. The court officer enforces all appropriate judicial orders and enforces all laws and ordinances as appropriate. The court officer is a member of an integrated statewide security team. The court officer works with fellow court officers, associate court officers, and the Security Department management team to identify and address all security concerns, including: promptly dealing with disturbances, exercising arrest powers if warranted, responding to and managing medical emergencies, producing reports, and maintaining logs and records to ensure the safety and security of all Massachusetts Trial Court facilities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

· Provides safety and security to all persons that enter the courthouse and courthouse grounds.
· Performs safety security checks of the perimeter of the building, courtrooms and any other rooms used throughout the day.
· Exercises statutory arrest powers in or about the areas of the court or areas designated as the court.
· Escorts detainees to and from lockup courtroom and other designated areas as needed.
· Searches and processes detainees from various law enforcement agencies.
· Works with the different departments within the Trial Courts.
· May be assigned by the Security Department to perform court officer duties throughout the courthouse to include jury pool management.
· Patrols and maintains order on courthouse grounds to protect all employees and visitors.
· Works the screening station, x-ray and metal detectors at main entrance.
· Monitors CCTV cameras, DSX and Security Systems to ensure safety of the public, court employees, and prisoners.
· Prepares and submits incident reports, maintains security logs and performs equipment checks as directed.
· Responds to all medical, building emergencies and disturbances.
· Works inside a courtroom during trials, motions, arraignments, and pretrial activities.
· Attends all court officer training programs required by the Trial Court and must successfully pass all training requirements.
· Inputs weekly SSTA timesheet.
· Monitors department issued e-mails and announcements.
· Complies with and demonstrates an understanding of all Trial Court policies, Security Department policies and procedures, and all state and federal laws.
· Maintain Health and Wellness standard.
· Performs other duties as required.

Working Conditions

Work is frequently performed in office or similar indoor environments, as well as outdoor environments. Work requires frequent exposure to individuals who are hostile or irate and individuals with known violent backgrounds.

Physical Demands

This position requires heavy work:

Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects.

For more information on the Security department and becoming a Trial Court Officer visit Trial Court Security Department.

Minimum Requirements

In addition to passing the exam, individuals must apply to a Trial Court job posting at Jobs with the Court System when posted (after the exam) and meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered for appointment as a Court Officer:

Education and Experience

· A High school diploma or an equivalent; an Associate’s degree or higher degree in criminal justice or a similar field of study is preferred;
· 2 years prior experience in security, law enforcement, corrections, loss prevention, emergency medical services, direct care social services, or military service;
· An Associate’s degree and one year of experience in criminal justice or a related field, may be substituted for the required experience;
· A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation may substitute for required work experience.

Other Requirements After Passing the Exam and Prior to an Appointment

Physical Abilities Test (PAT) – Candidates must demonstrate their ability to meet physical standards. Those who pass the written exam and meet the minimum requirements for the position may be invited to attend a Physical Abilities Test (PAT) session. Due to the expected high volume of applicants, not all candidates will be invited to the PAT simultaneously. To learn more about the PAT, click here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/physical-ability-test-for-massachusetts-court-officers.

Structured Oral Interview – Candidates must pass a Structured Oral Interview.

Psychological Assessment – Candidates may be asked to undergo a psychological assessment.

Consent to Criminal Record Check – Interviewed candidates selected for appointment will be required to complete the Consent to Criminal Record Check Form. Trial Court Policy (Section 4.100) may prohibit the employment of individuals with a felony conviction or a misdemeanor conviction resulting in incarceration if the end date of such incarceration is within the five-year period immediately preceding the date of application of employment. A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check involving other offenses will not automatically disqualify the final candidate(s). Determinations of suitability based on CORI checks will be made consistent with this policy and any applicable law or regulations.

Medical – As a condition of employment, applicants for the Court Officer position must successfully pass a medical exam that includes a drug screening.

Background Investigation – Candidates will be subjected to a background investigation.

Federal I9 Form for Employment Eligibility – Pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, after an offer of employment is made, selected candidates for appointment are required to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) and submit specific document(s) that establish identity and verify the right to work in the United States.

Massachusetts Residency Requirement – Pursuant to G.L. c. 478, sec. 328 of the Acts of 1978, no person who is not a resident of the Commonwealth shall serve as an officer in or an employee of the Judicial Branch; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to those persons serving as officers in or employees of the Judicial Branch prior to the effective date of c. 478, sec. 328.

Training – Candidates must satisfactorily complete the Court Officer Training Academy and are subject to a probationary period.

Examination Registration and Payment Information:

All registrations must be received by the posted deadline and accompanied by an examination processing fee. You will receive a confirmation email when you have completed the process.

Your registration is not complete until you have received a confirmation email. All additional information about the examination will be provided to you by email.

Please check the email address you registered with regularly for up-to-date information about the upcoming examination. If you do not see any emails, be sure to check your junk mail.

All exam registrants who have registered through I/O solutions will receive access to a study guide. Go to https://iosolutions.com/membership-login/, select “Account login” and enter the email and password you used to register. Once you log in, you’ll be directed to “My Account” and the study guide will be under “Purchased Online Products”.