SOCIAL ROLE OF A COUNTY SHERIFF

• NCJ Number: 59405
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 44 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY-AUGUST 1953) Pages: 177-184
• Author(s): T C ESSELSTYN
• Date Published: 1953
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROFILE OF CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A RURAL ILLINOIS COUNTY FROM 1946 TO 1950 IS PRESENTED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF.

Abstract

THE ROLE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE SHERIFF, WHOSE JURISDICTION ENCOMPASSES 50,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN 22 MINOR CIVIL DIVISIONS AND 18 RURAL TOWNS, REFLECT THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE COUNTY, AND THE SHERIFF CONFORMS TO THE VOTERS' CONCEPTION OF A WORTHY MAN. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THOUGH FREQUENTLY CRITICIZED, IS A POWERFUL ONE. THE SOURCE OF THE SHERIFF'S POWER LIES IN HIS FREEDOM TO INTERPRET HIS JOB AS HE WISHES, IN THE CONSIDERABLE SHARE OF LOCAL MONEY AND JOBS TIED UP IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IN THE TENDENCY OF RURAL CITIZENS TO LOOK UPON THE SHERIFF AS A SYMBOL OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER LOCAL PROBLEMS AND A BULWARK AGAINST ENCROACHMENTS OF STATE POWER, AND IN THE SHERIFF'S LONGSTANDING POLITICAL TIES. THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, THE SHERIFF GRADUALLY BUILDS A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS USEFUL IN RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING INFORMAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING PROBLEM CASES. RURAL CITIZENS TEND NOT TO REPORT CERTAIN TYPES OF OFFENSES OR OFFENSES THAT OCCUR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SEEM TO HAVE A RELATIVELY HIGH TOLERANCE FOR LAWLESSNESS. FOR INSTANCE, AN OFFENSE INVOLVING THE FARM WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, NOT THE SHERIFF. AN ANALYSIS OF 5,700 ARRESTS BY THE COUNTY SHERIFF BETWEEN 1945 AND 1949 SHOWS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A MUCH LOWER ARREST RATE FOR THE COUNTY THAN FOR THE COUNTY SEAT (A SEPARATE POLICE DISTRICT); A RELATIVELY HIGH PROPORTION OF OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS (13 PERCENT); A PREPONDERANCE OF RELATIVELY YOUNG OFFENDERS; AND A PREFERENCE FOR ROUTINE DISPOSITIONS, USUALLY SHORT JAIL SENTENCES, WITH LITTLE CONCERN FOR THE CAUSES OF CRIMES OR THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING THEIR OCCURRENCE. THE NEED FOR MORE STUDIES OF RURAL CRIME IS NOTED.