When you think of law enforcement, you likely think of your city’s police force before the sheriff. However, Georgia’s Constitution mandates that each county has a sheriff, and Georgia law designates the sheriff as the chief law enforcement officer of the county. In most counties with city police departments, the sheriff voluntarily hands over general law enforcement activities to city police. Even then, they cannot be forced to do so.

The County Sheriff has three main responsibilities.

1. First is law enforcement, usually done in partnership with the city police. This is meant to be centered around protecting people and property. This involves patrolling jurisdictions, responding to calls, enforcing laws, and making arrests.

2. Second is courtroom security. The sheriff and their deputies provide physical protection in courthouses and act as bailiffs to the Superior Court. The duties of bailiffs include escorting jury members to and from the courtrooms, attending to their needs, guarding them from outside influences, and serving all court summons (subpoenas). In 2005, the Fulton County Sheriff faced harsh scrutiny after an incident in which a sitting judge was killed in a Fulton county courtroom.

3. Third is jail management. The Sheriff’s department is the official county jailer and is responsible for the health, safety, and wellbeing of its inmates, which may be the lesser-known duty for this office. In the time of COVID-19, sheriffs across the state are under increased scrutiny as concerns about inmate safety have been raised. The office is also responsible for preparing inmates for returning to society by employing transitional programs and potentially helping them overcome addictions. In 2019, the Fulton County Sheriff’s office became the first jail-based agency to receive a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for this purpose.