Criminal Justice Should Sherriff\'s Be Elected? Across

Criminal Justice

Should Sherriff's be Elected?

Across the nation popular election is the almost standardized means of selection of the sheriff. Sheriffs are elected to four-year terms in forty one states, two-year terms in three states, a three-year term in one state and a six-year term in one state. The races are on a partisan ballot in forty states and on a non-partisan basis in six states. A small number of states do not have the office of sheriff. "There are no sheriffs in Alaska and that office was essentially abolished in the year 2000 in Connecticut. Hawaii does not have the position traditionally associated with the office of sheriff. In Rhode Island, the governor appoints the sheriff. In two Colorado counties and Dade County, Florida, sheriffs are appointed by the county executive" (Elected office of the sheriff, n.d.). Some jurisdictions have explored switching to a system of appointed sheriffs and at least two have had an appointed sheriff and returned to a system of elections.

In the town where I live, Killeen, TX, there is a local police department along with a country sheriff. "The Killeen Police Department is a 339-member organization, with a 243 member allotted sworn strength" (Killeen Police Department, 2012). They are responsible for all police functions in Killeen, Texas, a city of almost 128,000 in population, covering just over 55 square miles. The mission of the police department is to create a partnership with the community to combat crime and improve the quality of life for all its citizens. Another partner that they have to fight crime is that of the Bell county sheriff's office. Dan Smith was elected Bell County Sheriff and took office January 1, 1985. He is currently serving his twenty-eighth year as Sheriff and was unopposed for his 7th term which began in January 2009 (Dan Smith - Bell County Sheriff, n.d.).

Having an elected, as there is in Bell County, is a positive thing for the jurisdiction. The sheriff supplies a check and balance as an elected county official directly responsible to the citizens. This guards against undue influence by members of the county board or by other county officials. There are also a number of checks upon the unregulated discretion of the sheriff. The voters can get rid of the sheriff from office during the election. The county board controls the budget and salary of the sheriff; and in severe cases statutes allow for the removal of the sheriff from office for misfeasance or nonfeasance of duty (Elected office of the sheriff, n.d.).

In our democratic system, the people should have the right to choose who is to be sheriff. In a lot of counties the sheriff is the single most influential individual and institution. Despite the efforts of appointment proponents, voters who have had a chance to decide the issue have nearly collectively decided to keep the office elective (Elected office of the sheriff, n.d.). Citizens should have the freedom to choose their sheriff and direct election is the best means to accomplish that.

The election of the sheriff in Killeen is constant with national traditions and practices. Election of sheriffs is almost uniform throughout the United States. History has shown in those jurisdictions in which the sheriff is appointed there is a decline in quality and continuity of law enforcement services and administration. When the sheriff is subject to the whims and caprices of the board of commissioners, the office becomes more politicized, not less (Elected office of the sheriff, n.d.).