The duties of a sheriff vary by the jurisdiction in which he operates. Although sheriffs are always legal officials, their powers and functions vary widely. In the United Kingdom, for example, their duties may be largely ceremonial in some areas, though in Scotland they act as judges. Throughout the United States, this official is typically the chief law enforcement official within a county and may assume both administrative and policing duties in accordance with county ordinances. County sheriffs assume responsibility for the management of both criminal and civil cases, often facilitating procedures necessary to due process.
Within the United States, sheriffs are typically elected officials. Their role in county government is typically defined in legal statutes, but they will usually have the power to arrest and detain suspects, investigate crimes, and patrol the county. The legal system within a county may also rely greatly on their management and leadership. For example, the sheriff's staff will typically assume security duties at a county courthouse and may also be responsible for maintaining the county jail.
Unlike local police, who are primarily concerned with the prevention and investigation of criminal behavior, sheriffs within the United States often take a significant role in the processing of civil cases. For example, when someone files a legal case against another person, such as a lawsuit, divorce, or eviction, the sheriff's office may be charged with serving court papers to the defendant. A sheriff may also be called upon to enforce a court order in a civil case. In many areas, a deputy of the sheriff's office can physically enforce an eviction order by removing a recalcitrant tenant and his belongings from a rental property. Sheriffs may also be in charge of seizing assets in order to enforce a bank levy or property seizure to satisfy a court judgment.
The involvement of a sheriff in criminal law enforcement may vary according to the availability of state or local police in an area. In areas in which there is significant police presence, sheriffs and their deputies may largely concern themselves with maintaining security at the courts and jails, serving court summons, and enforcing court judgments. There are many areas of the United States that have limited police presence and may have no local police office. In such places, the sheriff's office may be responsible for providing standard and routine police services, such as ticketing automobiles, responding to residents' calls for assistance, and investigating crime.