Sheriff facts for kids
A sheriff is a special kind of law official. They are usually in charge of keeping the peace in a specific area, like a county. What a sheriff does can be different depending on the country. The word "sheriff" comes from old English. It means "shire-reeve," which was the king's officer in a "shire" (an old word for county). This officer made sure the king's laws were followed in that area.
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History of Sheriffs
The idea of a "shire reeve" first appeared in England around the early 11th century. When William the Conqueror took over England in 1066, he kept many of the existing sheriffs. He got rid of the large Anglo-Saxon Earldoms. This made the sheriff the king's direct representative in each county. Sheriffs were usually appointed for one year. They held courts and dealt with smaller lawbreakers. Later, their main jobs became arresting and holding criminals.
Sheriffs in Colonial America
As the American colonies grew, Britain took control. Each new colony created counties. A sheriff was then appointed to keep law and order. They also worked for the British courts. Sheriffs had different names in different colonies. For example, in Rhode Island, they were called a "general sergeant". In Connecticut and Massachusetts, they were called a "Marshal". In Plymouth Colony, they were known as a "messenger".
Later, colonial governors appointed sheriffs. Their jobs included collecting taxes and delivering official court papers called subpoenas. They were paid for each task. Collecting taxes paid the most money. Because of this, enforcing laws sometimes became less important. After the American Revolutionary War, people started to elect their sheriffs.
Sheriffs in the American West
In the American West, the Spanish were settling areas like what is now Texas and California. Their version of a sheriff was called an Alguacil. As Americans moved west, they often started new towns. A sheriff was usually the only law enforcement available.
Sheriffs had a special power called posse comitatus. This meant a sheriff could ask anyone to help them keep the peace. They could also ask for help to catch and arrest criminals. A group of temporary helpers working for a sheriff is called a "posse." As America grew, posses were used less often. Today, sheriffs are still the main law enforcement in many rural areas.
Modern Sheriffs
Sheriffs in the United States
In many states, the sheriff is still the highest-ranking county law enforcement officer. Each state decides what powers its sheriffs will have. In some states, the sheriff mainly works as a court officer. Police departments handle most law enforcement duties. In other states, sheriffs are in charge of enforcing laws. They also investigate crimes, move prisoners, and run jails.
A sheriff can appoint deputies to help them. A small sheriff's office might just have the sheriff. A large one could have hundreds of deputies and other staff. The main difference between a sheriff's office and a police department is that sheriffs usually run county jails. They also handle other county civil duties.
Sheriffs in Australia
In Australia, sheriffs were appointed as early as 1829 in Western Australia. They worked as court officials. Their duties included collecting taxes and fines.
See also
In Spanish: Sheriff para niños
