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Assignments inside a sheriff's office

• Patrol

  Usually the unincorporated parts of the county, plus small towns that contract with the office instead of running their own police.

• Corrections

  Most sheriffs run the county jail. It is a large share of the staff and often where new hires start.

• Civil process

  Serving subpoenas, summonses, evictions and property seizures. This is work almost nobody else in law enforcement does.

• Court security and prisoner transport

  Keeping the courthouse safe and moving people between jail and court.

• Search and rescue

  In counties with mountains, desert or water, the sheriff is usually the agency that comes looking for you.