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History - A Brief Overview
The history of the Office of the Sheriff is a chronicle of Western Civilization, a biography of
democracy and a work-picture of man’s quest for equity and self-determination in matters
pertaining to his government.
Whenever we scan the documents of British and American history, we find the Office of the
Sheriff entrusted with the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of domestic
tranquility. Some historians date the Office of the Sheriff to ancient Roman times. Others express
the belief that the Office had its beginnings prior to the writing of the Magna Carta in 1215
in England. Of the 63 Articles in the Magna Carta, 27 Articles refer directly or indirectly to
the Office of the Sheriff. Historians agree that the Office of the Sheriff is one of the most familiar
and useful to be found in the history of English institutions. The functions and the powers of the
Office have undergone changes, but for over seven centuries it has maintained a continuous
existence and preserved features.
The Office of the Sheriff is the oldest law enforcement office known within the common law
system. The Office of the Sheriff is the only elected law enforcement office in the country.
Today, with some variations from state to state, the duties of the Office of the Sheriff have
remained consistent.
The sale of property had been the responsibility of the Office of the Sheriff for over seven
hundred years and this function is still performed to this day. The authority over bailiffs,
constables, wardens and the jail are a continuing responsibility along with court safety and
the service of warrants. Today’s Office of the Sheriff has not only continued the responsibilities
of the past, but has expanded its duties to adapt to a modern world. These expanded duties
include, for example, drug control, prisoner transportation, crime prevention, victim assistance,
sexual abuse investigations, search and rescue, identification, community policing and
communications.
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