Difference between revisions of "Sheriff"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | 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. | + | 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. |
| + | |||
| + | 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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == See also == | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[[Police]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| − | |||
[[Category:law]] | [[Category:law]] | ||
Revision as of 19:19, November 26, 2007
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.
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.