INFORMATION

The Contemporary Office of Sheriff:
     In the minds of many Americans, the role of Sheriff ended with the taming of the "Wild West." Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. There are more than 3,000 counties in the United States today, and almost every one that a person could come upon will have a Sheriff. Even the larger cities of the North and South have Sheriffs and Corrections Officers.
     In the majority of states, the office of Sheriff is established by the state constitution. Most of the remaining states have established the office by acts of their state legislatures. There are only three states that do not allow the people to help elect their own Sheriffs for their towns.
     Because the Sheriff’s Office exists in so many different places and so many things are different at each place, there are no real "normal" Sheriffs. Some Sheriffs have time for many things, like stopping at a local cafe to pick up some coffee, while others do not have that time of the day. Others are called in on duty for many, many hours everyday to be working and putting their valuable time in for something. Even though all of the Sheriff’s Offices are different, they all have some things in common, such as:
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Law Enforcement:
     Most Sheriffs’ offices have a responsibility for law enforcement, a function that dates all the way back to the origins of the office in feudal England. Although the authority of the Sheriff varies from state to state, a Sheriff always has the power to make arrests within his or her own county. Some states extend this authority to adjacent counties or to the entire state. (In our county, the county cops have to stay within the limits of our county line.)
     Many Sheriffs’ offices also perform routine patrol functions, such as traffic control and accident investigations. Larger agencies may perform criminal investigations or take part in other specific law enforcement actions. A Sheriff’s law enforcement activities often involve assisting people that have been affected or involved in a crime of any sort. As the Sheriff’s law enforcement duties become more extensive and complex, new career opportunities for people with specialized skills are opening up in Sheriffs’ offices around the country.
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Jail Administration:
     Most Sheriffs’ offices maintain and operate county jails, detention centers, and detoxification centers. Sheriffs, and the Corrections Officers under their authority, are responsible for supervising inmates and protecting their rights. They are also responsible for providing inmates with food, clothing, exercise, recreation, and medical services. Among other things are booking people in and out, handling visitation days for the inmates’ families, doing transport to area Law Enforcement, and taking the inmates to and from Court on the proper dates.
     This responsibility has become more difficult as old jail facilities deteriorate and become overcrowded. The mid-1970s brought on an explosion of lawsuits filed by inmates to protest their conditions of confinement. In recent years, however, national and state commissions, along with the courts, have been working together with local authorities to make jails more hospitable and humane. This effort has brought Sheriffs and their jail officers into partnership with judges, district attorneys and corrections officials. As jail conditions improve, Sheriffs and their agencies are earning increased respect and recognition as professionals. Morgan County does have a new jail that has been built in the last six months.
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Civil Process:
     Another significant role of the sheriff is to provide civil law enforcement service on behalf of the courts. Municipal police officers are generally prohibited from performing this function. In the event enforcement is needed on behalf of the court, exclusive of criminal law enforcement, the sheriff is the primary agent in the United States to provide it. Civil process service, summonses, evictions, service of court orders, writs, repossession orders, child support orders, and orders of protection are typical issues that are dealt with by sheriff's personnel.
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Credited to: Dickson County Sheriff's Office