Apprehending criminals and maintaining the "King’s Peace." Convening local courts and executing judicial sentences.
Running a jail involves managing food service, medical care, mental health treatment, and gang violence. Because of the opioid crisis and the deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities, many county jails have become the largest mental health providers in their regions—a role they were never designed for. Sheriff
In rural areas with no local police, the sheriff is essential. Negative assessment: In urban counties, role overlap with city police creates confusion, turf wars, and duplicated costs. Apprehending criminals and maintaining the "King’s Peace