Sheriff'S Instructions Miscellaneous Process: Fill & Download for Free

Right. A Sheriff is the only law enforcement entity mentioned in the constitution, holding three main duties. Firstly the sheriff’s office is usually responsible for typical police duties (traffic, responding for calls to service, patrol e.c.t) in unincorporated areas of a county. There are, however exceptions to this such as when the county has a county police department which will handle general law enforcement, whilst the Sheriff handles courts, the county jail and often the civil processes as well. Another exception to this is if a Sheriff serves in an incorporated area of the county such as in Virginia were cities are not part of the counties around them, therefore giving some cities a city Sheriff department. A city sheriff also exists in New York. The final exception to this rule is when a city without a police department contracts the county sheriff for their law enforcement.A Sheriff’s second duty is the court processes which includes courthouse and courtroom security, the serving of higher court warrants and often (but not always) the serving of civil and lower court warrants as well. An exception to this is when a marshal or constable office exists which will handle the lower courts and civil duties, whilst the sheriff handles the higher courts and felony warrants. The sheriff is also responsible for the transportation of inmates (unless a marshal or constable office exists, to transport misdemeanour inmates) both to and from court to either the county jail or prison. In some states such as New York, the correctional system has its own court officers that maintain security in courtrooms and courthouses, whilst also transporting inmates.The sheriff’s final duty is the running of the county jail, a prison like environment were inmates are held either before sentencing, for a short period after sentencing before a suitable prison is allocated or for a short sentence, usually for minor misdemeanor offences like failing to pay a parking fine for years on end, leading to an arrest warrant. An exception to this can be found in the state of New York, were the state correctional department is responsible for the jail system.Police Departments, however, are totally different. Police departments usually exist in towns and cities but can exist for villages, townships, counties, states, hospitals, schools, airports, ports, transit districts and even fire stations; the list goes on. If one of the above mentioned districts wishes to have more control over its district then it can form a police department. Police departments are usually only responsible for general law enforcement (patrol, response, traffic, investigations e.c.t) although some may maintain a small jail.So the difference between the two comes in two parts. Firstly Sheriff’s tend to only operate in unincorporated areas of the county (although they do assist Police Departments, and some city sheriff offices do exist) whereas police departments usually within a municipal boundary although this is not always the case (e.g. transit police). The second and final main difference is in relation to the different duties they both perform. A police department will almost always only provide general law enforcement, whereas Sheriff’s office will usually provide 3 service types, with exceptions granted.I hope this answers your question.