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Jim lives in Farmersville, Texas, with his wife Ellen. They have 1 child. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Texas and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Jim previously served as an assistant district attorney and special prosecutor for the Collin County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and as the chief investigator for the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office in New Mexico.

Jim Skinner currently serves as the sheriff for Collin County in Texas. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his 2nd term.


Candidate website

Supports efforts to hire and train new deputies to improve public safety.

Supports collaboration between counties to enhance public safety.

Supports collaboration between counties to improve public safety.

As sheriff, coordinated with the U.S. Marshal’s Service to track felony fugitives, clearing over 1,000 backlogged warrants from 2017-2018.

As sheriff, coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service to track felony fugitives, clearing over 1,000 backlogged warrants from 2017-2018.

Plans to improve mental health response by reorganizing the mental-health unit and appointing a new sergeant to lead it.

As sheriff, reorganized the mental-health unit and appointed a new sergeant to lead it.

Supports enhancing public safety through the re-organization of a formal SWAT team, funded by the Commissioners Court for training and equipment in FY2022 and selecting and training deputies for the team in FY2023.

As sheriff, reorganized the formal SWAT team in response to mass crimes such as shootings. 

- Supports efforts to hire and train new deputies to improve public safety.
- Supports collaboration between counties to improve public safety.
- As sheriff, coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service to track felony fugitives, clearing over 1,000 backlogged warrants from 2017-2018.
- As sheriff, reorganized the mental-health unit and appointed a new sergeant to lead it.
- As sheriff, reorganized the formal SWAT team in response to mass crimes such as shootings. 

Public Safety

Supports expanding medication-assisted treatment in county jails to improve care for individuals with opioid use disorder.

As sheriff, expanded medication-assisted treatment in county jails to improve care for individuals with opioid use disorder.

Supports the use of tablets and other technologies to improve inmate communications and visitation.

As sheriff, added beekeeping and a certified Barber College to the inmate farm program, which provides food for inmates and donations to non-profits.

Supports jail programs like inmate farming, beekeeping, and barber training for inmates.

Plans to work with the Professional Standards Section and the County’s Human Resources Department to improve recruitment and retention of jail staff.

Supports adding more detention officers and sergeants, and believes pay raises will help with recruitment and retention.

Supports adding more detention officers and believes pay raises will help with recruitment and retention.

- As sheriff, expanded medication-assisted treatment in county jails to improve care for individuals with opioid use disorder.
- Supports the use of tablets and other technologies to improve inmate communications and visitation.
- Supports jail programs like inmate farming, beekeeping, and barber training for inmates.
- Plans to work with the Professional Standards Section and the County’s Human Resources Department to improve recruitment and retention of jail staff.
- Supports adding more detention officers and believes pay raises will help with recruitment and retention.

Jail Management

As of September 7, 2024, Jim Skinner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Criminal Justice

Dallas Morning News, Collin County deserves more from its sheriff

In 2017, a Collin County deputy conducted an improper traffic stop with a non-police officer present. Sheriff Jim Skinner called the incident a "mistake" but did not provide evidence of requested investigations by the Texas Rangers and the Department of Homeland Security. An anonymous whistleblower later distributed footage of the incident, which lacked audio, and raised questions about accountability and transparency within the sheriff's office.

- In 2017, a Collin County deputy conducted an improper traffic stop with a non-police officer present. Sheriff Jim Skinner called the incident a "mistake" but did not provide evidence of requested investigations by the Texas Rangers and the Department of Homeland Security. An anonymous whistleblower later distributed footage of the incident, which lacked audio, and raised questions about accountability and transparency within the sheriff's office.

Ethics & Conduct

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Jim Skinner

Jim lives in Farmersville, Texas, with his wife Ellen. They have one child. He has a bachelor's degree from University of Central Texas and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Jim Skinner currently serves as the Sheriff for Collin County in Texas. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his second term.


Supports traffic law enforcement, assisting stranded motorists, and responding to accidents.

Believes addressing public safety is crucial due to the county's rapid growth and rising heavy vehicle traffic.

Supports additional deputy positions for traffic and DWI enforcement.

Supports the NTXCIU's success in arresting suspects, seizing drugs and weapons, and rescuing children.

Supports adding more investigators to manage caseloads, maintain solve rates, and address new types of crime, such as internet fraud and elder abuse.

Supports collaboration with experts and specialized investigators to address and reduce crimes against children.

Supports the operations of NTXCIU deputies, believing their work is essential for local and national safety and plans to expand their operations and access to intelligence and data to combat drug cartels.

Supports child exploitation investigators and zero-tolerance policies on child predation, saying "these officers have arrested over 300 adult suspects...and seized terabytes of CSAM images."

Believes the number of people with mental illness or intellectual or developmental disabilities is increasing.

Supports funding for training and equipment to enhance public safety.

As sheriff, reorganized the formal SWAT team. 

- Supports efforts to hire and train new deputies to improve public safety.
- Supports collaboration between counties to enhance public safety.
- As sheriff, coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service to track felony fugitives, clearing over 1,000 backlogged warrants from 2017-2018.
- As sheriff, reorganized the mental-health unit and appointed a new sergeant to lead it.
- As sheriff, reorganized the formal SWAT team. 

Graduated from the Jail Administration Course at the FBI Training Academy in 2022.

Supports the Professional Standards Section and County’s Human Resources Department in innovating new recruitment methods for detention officers.

Supports jail management by overseeing the construction and maintenance of facilities like the CCDF, which includes a main jail with 1,106 beds, a 24-bed infirmary, and a minimum-security facility with 192 beds.

Supports innovative jail management programs.

Supports expanding the county jail with new facilities and hiring, equipping, and training additional staff.

Supports the management of the Collin County Detention Facility.

Supports the addition of 14 new detention-officer positions and two new detention-sergeant positions for FY2024.

Believes the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, which has 587 personnel, houses over 1,100 inmates at the Detention Center, and provides law enforcement services to 500 square miles of unincorporated territory across Collin County, is essential for effective jail management and law enforcement.

Supports the changes made by the new Jail Administrator to enhance inmate management, work processes, and culture.

Supports the changes made by the jail administrator to enhance inmate management, work processes, and culture.

Supports the construction of a new infirmary with over 400 beds, a new admissions area, and a 180-bed orientation-housing cluster to accommodate the growing needs of the County Correctional Detention Facility.

- As sheriff, expanded medication-assisted treatment in county jails to improve care for individuals with opioid use disorder.
- Supports the use of tablets and other technologies to improve inmate communications and visitation.
- As sheriff, added beekeeping and a certified Barber College to the inmate farm program, which provides food for inmates and donations to non-profits.
- Plans to work with the Professional Standards Section and the County’s Human Resources Department to improve recruitment and retention of jail staff.
- Supports the changes made by the jail administrator to enhance inmate management, work processes, and culture.
- Supports adding more detention officers and believes pay raises will help with recruitment and retention.
- Supports the construction of a new infirmary with over 400 beds, a new admissions area, and a 180-bed orientation-housing cluster to accommodate the growing needs of the County Correctional Detention Facility.

Promises to uphold both the U.S. and Texas Constitutions.

Promises to "always maintain justice, while honoring the rule of law."

Supports local and statewide investigations into political corruption, bribery, and kickbacks, emphasizing the need for competent and fearless local investigators to ensure ethical and professional case resolutions.

Promises to work on enhancing the professional standards of the Sheriff's Office.

Believes in thorough investigation and resourcefulness in solving white-collar and political corruption cases.

Believes in conducting intensive investigations over many months before making charging decisions, and in preparing for trial for many months after charges are filed.

The candidate's website does not provide information on their values and belief system.

Believes the Second Amendment applies to states and supports the right to self-defense.

Supports having a sheriff that "holds to the Constitution and is willing to uphold the rule of law."

Believes the Second Amendment protects modern weapons, as shown in Caetano v. Massachusetts, where the Court reversed a woman's conviction for possessing a stun gun for self-defense.

Endorses Sheriff Skinner, saying he "has integrity and good old standard and morals that are sorely lacking in today’s society."

Believes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen (2021), which extended gun rights outside the home, was correct.

Believes in rigorous investigation and prosecution of corruption to protect public funds, as demonstrated by successfully convicting a County Road Superintendent for receiving kickbacks through meticulous document scrutiny, bank account research, and interviews.

Supports rigorous investigation and prosecution of corruption to protect public funds, as demonstrated by successfully convicting a county road superintendent for receiving kickbacks through meticulous document scrutiny, bank account research, and interviews.

Supports increasing law enforcement personnel to enhance crime investigation and patrol efforts.

Believes elected officials must collaborate with the Commissioners Court on budget and county growth planning.

- Supports rigorous investigation and prosecution of corruption to protect public funds, as demonstrated by successfully convicting a county road superintendent for receiving kickbacks through meticulous document scrutiny, bank account research, and interviews.
- Supports increasing law enforcement personnel to enhance crime investigation and patrol efforts.
- Believes elected officials must collaborate with the Commissioners Court on budget and county growth planning.

Supports adding more detention officers, and believes pay raises will help with recruitment and retention.

- As sheriff, expanded medication-assisted treatment in county jails to improve care for individuals with opioid use disorder.
- Supports the use of tablets and other technologies to improve inmate communications and visitation.
- As sheriff, added beekeeping and a certified Barber College to the inmate farm program, which provides food for inmates and donations to non-profits.
- Plans to work with the Professional Standards Section and the County’s Human Resources Department to improve recruitment and retention of jail staff.
- Supports the changes made by the jail administrator to enhance inmate management, work processes, and culture.
- Supports adding more detention officers, and believes pay raises will help with recruitment and retention.
- Supports the construction of a new infirmary with over 400 beds, a new admissions area, and a 180-bed orientation-housing cluster to accommodate the growing needs of the County Correctional Detention Facility.

Jim Skinner lives in Farmersville, Texas, with his wife Ellen. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center. They have a son named Egan.

Jim Skinner is currently serving his second term as Sheriff of Collin County, having been elected in November 2016. He is a 30-year law enforcement veteran and former prosecutor. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney and Special Prosecutor for the Collin County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and as the Chief Investigator for the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office in New Mexico.

Jim Skinner has served as the Sheriff of Collin County since January 1, 2017, and is seeking re-election in 2024. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Sheriffs’ Association as their Treasurer and is the Chair of NSA’s Governmental Affairs Committee.