The Supreme Court of the United States Police is a small U.S. federal law enforcement agency headquartered in the District of Columbia, whose mission is to ensure the integrity of the constitutional mission of the U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...

 by protecting the Supreme Court building

United States Supreme Court building

The Supreme Court Building is the seat of the Supreme Court of the United States. It is situated in Washington, D.C. at 1 First Street, NE, on the block immediately east of the United States Capitol. The building is under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. On May 4, 1987, the Supreme...

, the Justices, employees, guests, and visitors. In accordance with Title 28

Title 28 of the United States Code

Title 28 is the portion of the United States Code that governs the federal judicial system.It is divided into six parts:* Part I: Organization of Courts* Part II: Department of Justice...

 United States Code

United States Code

The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...

 Part III Chapter 45 § 672: the Supreme Court Police falls under the jurisdiction of the Marshal of the United States Supreme Court

Marshal of the United States Supreme Court

The Marshal of the United States Supreme Court is the person, similar to a bailiff, who attends the Supreme Court of the United States.-Legal basis:In accordance with Title 28 United States Code Part III Chapter 45 § 672:...

 who is authorized by Title 40 United States Code

Title 40 of the United States Code

Title 40 of the United States Code outlines the role of Public Buildings, Properties, and Public Works in the United States Code.* Subtitle I—Federal Property and Administrative Services* Subtitle II—Public Buildings and Works...

 § 6121 to police the Supreme Court Building and protect the Justices, employees of the Court, and visitors to the Court.

Established in 1935, the Supreme Court security force was tasked to provide protection for the Supreme Court building. The Court had previously resided in the United States Capitol

United States Capitol

The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...

, and the original force of 33 officers were selected from the ranks of the United States Capitol Police

United States Capitol Police

The United States Capitol Police is a federal police force charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories.-History:...

.

A separate police department was formally created by Congress in 1949, but that act specified that the officers' duties would consist solely of patrolling the Supreme Court building and its surroundings. The Supreme Court police were not authorized to carry guns or to make arrests outside of their small Washington jurisdiction. If a justice required or requested a bodyguard, he was provided with either a federal marshal or a member of the Supreme Court Police who was temporarily deputized as a marshal. In May 1982, however, then-Chief Justice Warren E. Burger

Warren E. Burger

Warren Earl Burger was the 15th Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986. Although Burger had conservative leanings, the U.S...

, citing a rise in "terrorist activities, assassination attempts, and street crime", requested greater powers for the Supreme Court police, and Congress complied.

Currently, the Supreme Court Police are responsible for protecting the Chief Justice

Chief Justice of the United States

The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...

, Associate Justices

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...

, building occupants, and the Court's historic building and grounds. Additional responsibilities include courtroom security, dignitary protection, emergency response, and providing assistance to building visitors.

The Supreme Court Police derives its enforcement authority from 40 U.S.C. § 6121.

Units of the Supreme Court Police include:

• Uniformed Services
• Protective Services
• Threat Assessment Unit
• Background Investigation Unit
• Honor Guard
• Key Response Squad
• HazMat
  Dangerous goods
  Dangerous goods are solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations. "HazMat teams" are personnel specially trained to handle dangerous goods...
  
  /Bomb Response.

Supreme Court officers are trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center serves as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 90 United States government federal law enforcement agencies.-Location:...

 in Georgia. They may retire at the age of 50 with 20 years of qualifying service, or at any age with 25 years of service. They are awarded "enhanced retirement benefits".

See also

• Bailiff#United States
• New York State Court Officers
  New York State Court Officers
  New York State Court Officers are law enforcement officers who provide police services to the New York State Unified Court System, and enforce state and city laws at all facilities operated by the New York State Unified Court System.- Training :...
  
  
• United States Marshals Service#Court Security Officers
• List of United States federal law enforcement agencies