Becoming a Sheriff

A sheriff is the main law enforcement officer for a county. The office of sheriff is an elected position in most counties, usually for a four-year term, however some sheriffs are appointed to the post.

Education, Training & Degrees for Sheriffs

The position of Sheriff is most often an elected office. While there are no formal degrees dedicated to or required for the post, most counties require a high school or equivalent education. A background in law enforcement or some related criminal justice field is often preferred. A degree in these fields can provide a candidate with both the credentials and the training necessary to be an effective sheriff.

Other requirements to run and serve as sheriff vary from county to county, but usually include such key points as meeting a minimum age requirement (usually 18), residence within the jurisdiction, U.S. citizenship, and lack of a criminal record. Some physical requirements might also be included to assure the candidate's ability to perform the job.

Job Responsibilities and Desired Skills for Sheriffs

The sheriff and his deputies have the same powers and responsibilities as police officers, along with some additional functions. Among these are the authority to summon private citizens to form a posse, and various judicial duties, such as the execution of processes and writs of the courts.

A sheriff's duties vary from county to county and from state to state, but usually include several essential functions. Primary among these is to act as the chief law enforcement officer for the county, with responsibilities and authority similar to police in urban areas, such as patrolling a specified jurisdiction, investigating crimes or suspicious behavior, and making arrests. Most sheriff departments perform their activities outside city limits, where municipal officers cannot operate. Some sheriffs have limited law enforcement powers and merely enforce judicial orders.

Virtually all Sheriffs are empowered to appoint and hire deputies for long-term employment, and have the legal authority to summon citizens into a posse, defined as a group of people temporarily deputized to perform a specific function, such as hunt for fugitives, search for missing persons, or maintain the peace.

Other Sheriff responsibilities can include operating the county jail and controlling and transporting prisoners, dispatching county emergency agencies such as fire and ambulance services, and providing courthouse security. As an officer of the court, a sheriff is subject to the court's orders and direction, and often acts in behalf of the court serving writs, processes and summonses issued by county and state courts, conducting auction sales of foreclosed property, and seizing chattel property in order to satisfy court judgments.

Sheriff Salary Range and Employment Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are approximately 3,500 County Sheriff's Offices in the United States. These range in size from one- or two-member forces to the 11,000-member Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The average Sheriff's Office employs 24.5 sworn officers. Job opportunities during the coming decade are expected to grow at about the same rate as other professions.

Figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that a sheriff's pay scale is similar to that of urban police, but wages can vary widely depending on location and experience. In 2004, police and sheriffs had median annual income of $45,210, with a range from less than $26,910 to high of more than $68,880 among the top ten percent.