The FSSP is the enforcement arm of the Judiciary of Russia, serving as the primary agency for protection of officers of the court, effective operation of the judiciary, fugitive operations, and providing security services and maintaining order within court facilities across Russia.

The FSSP was created during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin as the Department of Bailiffs in November 1997, and was elevated to a federal agency by Vladimir Putin in 2004.

Sergey Sazanov has been the Acting Director of the FSSP and Chief Bailiff of the Russian Federation since February 2017.

The FSSP ensures proper and timely execution of judicial acts, acts of other bodies and officials, as well as in cases stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation, execution of other documents in order to protect the abused rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens and organizations.

Federal Bailiffs are required to be biennially certified in the use of pepper spray, handcuffs, and defensive batons.