Changes

A '''sheriff''' is an administrative and legal officer in a [[county]], or shire. In some areas, the sheriff is the executive officer of the local court. In other jurisdictions the sheriff is the chief [[law]] enforcement officer of a county.  

In the most parts of the [[United States]], the '''sheriff''' is the chief law enforcement officer of a [[county]] or [[parish]].In some states, such as [[Conecticut]], the office of the Sheriff has been abolished altogether. In others, such as [[Delaware]], the Sheriff is responsible for court-ordered civil paper service and has no law enforcement authority. This, however, is currently in debate within that state on the basis of [[Common Law]] authority granted to the Sheriff.  

The word is derived from the [[Old English]] "shire-reeve" (a "reeve" is an administrative officer). Practices have gradually diverged in the various countries that have sheriffs. In the [[US]] a sheriff is a chief of police, whereas in [[England]] he is an officer responsible for enforcing court orders. In [[Scotland]], on the other hand, he is a judge in a court of law.

 

The Sheriff's Office is derived from [[English]] common law. The word is derived from the [[Old English]] term "shire-reeve." A shire is an Old English form of a [[county]] and the "reeve" was its appointed administrative/legal officer. Practices have gradually diverged in the various countries that have sheriffs. The term Sheriff is used throughout much of the English-speaking world. In the [[US]] a sheriff is a chief of police, whereas in [[England]] he is an officer responsible for enforcing court orders. In [[Scotland]], on the other hand, he is a special judge in a court of law.<ref>http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9378478</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Police]]

*[[Police]]