VOTE411 Voter Guide

The sheriff is a constitutional officer, elected for a four-year term by vote of the entire county. The sheriff is prohibited from serving more than two terms within 12 years. The sheriff’s duties, largely prescribed by statute, are as follows: To serve as conservator of the peace To serve warrants, subpoenas and other forms of process as an officer of the courts To collect delinquent state income taxes or levy upon the property of corporate or individual taxpayers for the amount due To sell mortgaged property under foreclosure proceedings and execute deeds to real estate sold under execution To serve processes for the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals To attend sessions of the county council and county commissioners and execute its orders Another critical statutory duty of the sheriff is to take charge of the county jail and its prisoners. The sheriff may also board prisoners, including those on federal charges or allow jail inmates who are financially responsible for a family to work in private or public employment under certain conditions. Assisting the sheriff is an advisory committee appointed by the sheriff and the judge to help carry out these functions. In addition, each county is required to have a five-member, bipartisan sheriff’s merit board. This board is created by ordinance or resolution of the county council. Members of the board are appointed by the sheriff, except for two who are elected by members of the county police force. The board administers certain police appointive functions under a merit system.