County officers.

They are the executive officers under the authority of the laws of the State.

Sheriff.

Elected by the people for four years.  Salary, allowance by the
Board of Supervisors and fees.

Duties.  Appoints his deputies; makes arrests; serves notices; collects fines; calls for troops in time of danger; executes any order, warrant, or process, lawfully directed to him, within his own county, or upon any bay, river, or creek adjoining thereto; levies on property and sells to satisfy order of court; attends the sittings of Circuit Courts; attends the meetings of the Board of Supervisors, and performs such duties as may be necessary for the proper despatch of business; must not practice law in any court of which he is an officer; cannot hold any other elective office; must give notice of violations of penal laws.

The salary or allowance for sheriffs is not the same in all counties, but varies according to the number of the population.  It is paid by the Board of Supervisors. (For Board of Supervisors, see page 82.)

The sheriff may appoint deputies or assistants to help him in his duties, which are numerous and important.  He is the principal executive officer of the county.  It is his business to execute the judgments of the courts.  If a person is sentenced to death, it is the sheriff who must make and direct the arrangements for carrying out the sentence.

A sentence (in law) is the judgment, or declaration of punishment, pronounced by a judge upon a criminal after being found guilty.  The sheriff must arrest and convey to prison any person or persons who have committed crime.  He must serve legal notices, such as notices of decrees or judgments to be given against parties in cases of action for debt.  He must collect fines that are not paid in court.

An important duty of the sheriff is to suppress riots or public disturbances, and if he finds that he and his officers are unable to do so, he may call upon the governor for troops (soldiers) to assist him.  In such case the governor may send State militia to suppress the disturbance.  The sheriff has charge or control of the county jail and the prisoners confined in it, and he must protect the prison and prisoners against violence or attack by mobs.

The sheriff must carry out any order or warrant or process of the courts.  A process is a summons or notice requiring a person to appear in court on a certain day to answer a charge to be made against him.  If a court gives judgment against a person for debt or fine or taxes not paid, the sheriff levies on the property of the person—­that is, he takes or seizes it—­and sells it to satisfy or execute the order of court.

It is also the duty of the sheriff to give notice to the attorney for the commonwealth of any crime (violation of penal laws) of which he may have knowledge.  The sheriff cannot hold any other elective office—­that is, an office to which a person is elected—­ and he cannot act as a lawyer in any court for which he does duty as sheriff.