Sheriffs

Career summary

#No alternate titles

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs work in areas not covered by city police departments. They may work in smaller towns or outside city limits. Sheriffs perform duties similar to those of city police chiefs. Deputy sheriffs have duties similar to those of city police officers.

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs patrol assigned areas and respond to calls. They check out illegal or suspicious activities and safety hazards. They pursue and arrest suspected criminals.

Deputies also enforce traffic laws and issue citations. They route traffic at accident scenes. They also help accident victims and investigate the accident.

Deputy sheriffs who work as investigators gather facts and evidence. They locate and take people into custody who have warrants out for their arrest. Deputies with civil duties serve subpoenas and summonses. They may seize property by court order.

Deputy sheriffs with jail-related duties transport prisoners from jails to courtrooms or medical facilities. Other deputies take prisoners' fingerprints and photos, and do the paperwork needed to add prisoners to the jail.

Deputies question visitors who enter secured prison areas. They find out why they are there and direct them where to go. Some deputies supervise prisoners while they are in jail. The duties of these deputies are similar to those for corrections officers.

All sheriffs and deputy sheriffs write reports and log their daily activities. They maintain accurate records that are used if they need to testify in court.

Related careers

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Border Patrol Agents
• Corrections Officers
• Detectives and Investigators
• Emergency Management Directors
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Fish and Game Wardens
• Police and Detective Supervisors
• Police Patrol Officers
• Secret Service Agents
• Transportation Security Screeners

Military careers

• Law Enforcement and Security Officers
• Law Enforcement and Security Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to sheriffs.

• Drive vehicles to patrol assigned areas and respond to calls.
• Investigate suspicious activities and safety hazards.
• Pursue and arrest suspected criminals.
• Enforce traffic laws and issue citations.
• Take control of accident scenes to maintain traffic flow. Assist victims and investigate causes.
• Carry out arrest warrants. Locate offenders and take them into custody.
• Serve subpoenas and summonses.
• Seize property by court order. Place notices in public places.
• Patrol courthouse, grand jury room, or assigned areas to provide security and enforce laws.
• Transport prisoners or defendants between jail, District Attorney's office, or medical facilities.
• Question people entering secured area in jail to determine their purpose. Direct or re-route them.
• Write reports, maintain accurate records, and log daily activities.
• May manage jail operations.

Common work activities

Sheriffs perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Perform for or work with the public
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Process information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Document and record information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Evaluate information against standards
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Use computers
• Assist and care for others
• Analyze data or information
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Think creatively
• Teach others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Perform administrative tasks
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Coach others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Schedule work and activities
• Develop and build teams
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Handle and move objects

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, sheriffs:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are often placed in conflict situations with angry, unpleasant people.
• Have a very high level of social contact. They spend a lot of time talking to coworkers and the public.
• Communicate on a daily basis by telephone and face-to-face discussions. Write reports, letters, and memos on a weekly basis.
• Are significantly responsible for the health and safety of the public and other officers.
• Sometimes deal with physically aggressive or violent suspects.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other sheriffs.
• Usually work as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Always wear a uniform.
• Sometimes work in indoor offices, and sometimes work outdoors patrolling their areas.
• May be exposed to hot or cold temperatures, depending on the weather.
• Are sometimes exposed to contaminants and the diseases and infections carried by those they arrest.
• Are sometimes exposed to loud sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Often wear protective or safety attire, including specialized equipment such as bulletproof vests.
• May work in extremely bright or very dim lighting conditions.
• May have to get into awkward positions to reach cramped spaces.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous situations and equipment that could produce cuts or other wounds.
• May come into close physical contact with those they arrest.
• Spend a significant amount of time in a vehicle, such as a sheriff's car or van.

Work performance

• Must be sure that all details are done and their work is exact. Errors could have serious consequences for the health and safety of the public, suspects, and other officers.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Regularly make decisions that greatly impact members of the public and their organization's reputation. They usually must make decisions without much time to analyze their options.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without speaking to a supervisor first.
• Must meet strict weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Are usually scheduled to work a 40-hour week, but often work overtime.
• May be required to work evening and night shifts, especially as a junior officer.
• May be required to work weekends and holidays.
• Are often expected to be armed, even when off duty.

Physical demands

Sheriffs frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for sheriffs to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Determine the distance between objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for sheriffs to be able to:

• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use muscles to jump, sprint, or throw objects.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• See objects in very low light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.

Skills and abilities

Sheriffs need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Forensic Science
• Law Enforcement and Police Science

Other programs of study to consider

• Corrections
• Criminal Justice
• Criminology
• Public Administration

Training

To work as a sheriff, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• be at least 21 years old;
• complete police academy training; and
• pass a written exam.

Education after high school

While a high school diploma is the minimum qualification for some sheriff jobs, most sheriffs have college training and many have a degree. Many community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or criminal justice.

Many states require that all law enforcement officers complete Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy (POST). New sheriffs attend police academies for three to six months. You study laws and ordinances, self-defense, and first aid. You also learn how to patrol, direct and control traffic, and handle emergencies. In addition, you learn the proper use of weapons.

Work experience

Some large sheriff departments hire high school graduates as police cadets who do office work. You take courses until you turn 21 years old and can compete for a recruit position.

On-the-job training

Most sheriff departments have training programs for newly hired officers. These programs typically last several months.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be law enforcement and security specialists. Training lasts from five to 12 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Community Protection
• Criminal Justice Assisting
• Criminology
• Legal System
• Physical Education
• Psychology
• Sociology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.  Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Sheriffs' departments require physical exams that often include tests of vision, hearing, strength, and agility. Most departments also give psychological interviews, drug tests, and a background check. Personal traits such as honesty, judgment, integrity, and responsibility are very important in law enforcement. Senior officers interview applicants and check their backgrounds with these traits in mind.

Many applicants for entry-level jobs have completed some college, and some are college graduates. Law enforcement agencies may prefer applicants with college-level training.

The general requirements for sheriff candidates in Washington are:

• a high school graduate or GED;
• being a United States citizen;
• no felony convictions or any criminal instances concerning moral turpitude or a number of offenses of a minor nature which would establish a pattern of criminal behavior;
• 21 years or older at time of appointment;
• having or acquiring a valid Washington State driver's license;
• a passing score on an examination based on knowledge, skills, and abilities;
• having approved basic law enforcement academy certification;
• passing a thorough background investigation, as well as a medical and psychological examination and polygraph test; and
• being in good health and being able to meet and maintain the physical requirements for the assigned position.

#modified from lewis county and others lh. Checked sheriff listings with Thurston & Pierce Co 4/11/05 & mesh with what we state here CJ. Checked some job announcements; seem to reflect what we say here, 4/2/07, CJ. Checked announcements again & added certification line, 4/25/11, cj. Checked a few job announcements; seems generally accurate 4/30/13, 3/31/15, 1/30/17, 3/18/19 cj.

Licensing/certification

Job applicants must complete 720 hours of basic law enforcement academy training within six months of hire by a law enforcement agency or have a certificate of equivalent basic training issued by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

For more information on the academy, contact the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission .

#2/12/20

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by agency and area of the country. Wages also vary depending on the education and experience of the officer. Sheriffs generally earn more than deputy sheriffs. In addition, many sheriffs work overtime and holidays. As a result, their total earnings often exceed the wages reported, because overtime payments can be significant.

Full-time sheriffs and deputy sheriffs receive typical benefits. These include paid vacation, sick leave, and health and life insurance. Most departments also provide allowances for uniforms. In addition, most provide retirement plans. Many officers retire at half-pay after 20 or 25 years of service.

National wage information is not available specifically for sheriffs. However, they are part of the larger group of "police and sheriff's patrol officers."

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Local, state, and federal police departments

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will grow steadily. Even with increased concern about public safety, many counties have cut budgets. Demand will depend on location.

Job prospects will be best for those with a bachelor's degree, military experience, and knowledge of a second language. There is very low turnover in this occupation.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for sheriffs. However, they are part of the larger group of "police and sheriff's patrol officers."

Other resources

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 

American Correctional Association 
206 North Washington Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.222.5646
703.224.0000

Discover Policing: (from the International Association of Chiefs of Police) 

International Association of Chiefs of Police 
44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.843.4227
703.836.6767

National Sheriffs' Association 
1450 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.424.7827
703.836.7827

US Department of Justice 

Washington Association of County Officials 
206 - 10th Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360.753.7319

Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs 
3060 Willamette Drive NE, Suite 200
Lacey, WA 98516
360.486.2380

Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs 
200 Union Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360.352.8224

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission 
19010 - 1st Avenue South
Burien, WA 98148
206.835.7300

References

Career cluster

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs (33-3051.03) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Deputy Sheriff, Building Guard (377.667-014) 
• Deputy Sheriff, Civil Division (377.667-018) 
• Deputy Sheriff, Grand Jury (377.363-010) 
• Sheriff, Deputy (377.263-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Realistic/Social

COPSystem

• Service Skilled