Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff

What is a Sheriff?

A sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, typically at the county level. The role of a sheriff can vary depending on the country and its legal system, but in general, in the United States, a sheriff’s job scope includes:

• Oversight of a county jurisdiction as an elected law enforcement officer, and a term of service that is typically four years long.
• County jail management
• Serving court papers (like subpoenas and eviction notices), and providing security for courts.
• Patrolling unincorporated areas of the county that lack local police forces.

What is a Deputy Sheriff?

Deputy sheriffs work under the sheriff to enforce federal, local, and state laws within their jurisdiction. They are appointed or hired to assist the sheriff in carrying out their duties within a county or jurisdiction, and their job scope can include highly diverse responisbilities, including:

Law Enforcement:

• Patrolling areas of the county, especially those without municipal police departments.
• Enforcing local, state, and federal laws.
• Responding to emergency calls, crimes, and accidents.

Court Duties:

• Providing security for county courts.
• Transporting inmates to and from court or correctional facilities.
• Serving legal documents like subpoenas, warrants, and eviction notices.

Corrections:

• Managing and maintaining the county jail.
• Supervising inmates and ensuring their safety.

Community Engagement

• Assisting with community safety programs.
• Building relationships with residents to promote public safety.

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs typically work at the county level, in smaller departments than what police officers serve in. 

What Does a Sheriff Do?

A sheriff, at the top of the county’s law enforcement department, handles both patrol and administrative duties. This professional is responsible for handling essential paperwork such as warrants and citations. The county sheriff oversees department funding, supervises activity in the county jail, provides training, develops guidelines and procedures, and performs disciplinary actions for those in his or her department. Sheriffs will also take emergency calls, deploy the deputy sheriffs in their jurisdiction, and provide their own services within the county, such as patrolling the area—including unincorporated areas, controlling car accident scenes, and more. 

A deputy sheriff doesn’t have the leadership and management responsibilities of a sheriff. This individual does more hands-on work in the community. This may include providing community education, arresting offenders, or testifying in court. Deputy sheriffs are also responsible for a certain amount of paperwork, as they must document their activities and complete the necessary reports for tickets, arrests, and other actions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Enforcing court orders 
• Seizing property 
• Responding to vehicle accidents 
• Acting as a first responder to medical emergencies 
• Providing assistance in emergency weather situations 
• Serving court summons 
• Assisting with search and rescue missions 
• Investigating suspicious or illegal activities 
• Monitoring their patrol area and providing a presence that deters illegal activity 
• Verifying legal changes filed against law offenders 
• Logging daily activities 

Sheriff vs Police: What’s the Difference?

So what is the difference in a cop vs. sheriff? Although there is great overlap in these two approaches to law enforcement, there are distinctions within five primary aspects:

• Jurisdiction – Police operate within definied municipal boundaries, whereas sheriffs have jurisdiction over an entire county, included unincorporated areas.
• Leadership Structure – Police chiefs, appointed by a mayor or city council, oversee police departments, while a sheriff is elected by a specific county constituency and is accountable to the public. Deputies and personnel within the sheriff’s department report to the elected sheriff.
• Responsibilities – Police departments tend to focus on urban crime, while county law enforcement covers a broader swath of criminal activity, in urban, suburban, and rural areas within a county jurisdiction.
• Community Interaction – Police departments engage closely with an urban demographic, while county law enforcement serves a more diverse community, and their interaction depends on the geographic spread of the country.
• Election vs. Appointment – While police are appointed by city officials, sheriffs are elected by constituents in a county.

What is the Job Outlook for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.  

About 64,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year in the United States, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.  

A desire for public safety may result in a need for more officers. However, demand for employment is expected to vary by location, driven largely by local and state budgets. Even when crime rates fall, demand for police services to maintain public safety is expected to continue.” 

As sheriffs are elected, one must also consider his or her public presence for an opportunity to earn this position. Sheriffs typically serve a term of four years.

Where Do Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Work?

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs are typically employed at the county level. Their jurisdiction covers the entire county, which may include several cities or towns. In very small cities where there is not a larger police department in service to the city, the sheriff and deputy sheriffs may also serve the city in addition to the county. However, city law enforcement is usually provided by police officers rather than sheriffs.

Additional Training/Requirements

Completion of a degree or diploma program does not guarantee a student has met all the requirements for employment in the criminal justice field. The Bryant & Stratton College’s programs are educational programs and the college makes no representations regarding whether a particular program will qualify a graduate for employment in any specific position, is necessary for attaining any such position or whether potential employers may require additional training or education.* Before enrolling in a program, potential students are encouraged to consult any relevant agency with which the student may wish to seek employment for a complete list of position requirements and pre- requisites. All applicants should be aware that criminal justice employers may consider numerous factors when determining eligibility or suitability for employment including but not limited to: criminal background screening, citizenship, state residency, physical and psychological health, age and military discharge information. A criminal conviction and or record of certain other conduct may prevent or hinder a graduate’s employment as a law enforcement officer or other positions in security, corrections and others depending upon the requirements in various jurisdictions. 

*Virginia residents should be aware that neither program will provide the required training for entry level positions in law enforcement, corrections, armed security, certain unarmed security and other careers requiring certification, licensure, or registration with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Students who complete these programs in Virginia will be required to obtain certification through DCJS- approved training facilities to meet minimum requirements for those positions. 

For more insights into the field of criminal justice, check out our blog section on criminal justice studies. You’ll find information on the best courses of study for a future in this area, as well as detailed information on the job opportunities you might explore.