This article examines the institutional role of the county sheriff as a distinctive form of law enforcement within the American policing system. Falcone and Wells analyze how sheriffs differ structurally and operationally from municipal police departments, focusing on constitutional origins, electoral accountability, and jurisdictional scope.
The study documents the historical development of the sheriff’s office and its dual character as both a law enforcement authority and a political institution. The authors explain how sheriffs exercise authority derived from state constitutions and statutes, rather than municipal charters, and how this status shapes their operational independence, policy discretion, and relationship with courts and local government.
By situating the sheriff within broader policing and governance frameworks, the article clarifies the legal and administrative foundations of sheriff authority without resort to mythic or extralegal interpretations. This work is frequently cited in scholarship addressing local law enforcement structure, institutional accountability, and variations in policing authority across jurisdictions.
Citation
Falcone, D. N., & Wells, L. E. (1995). The county sheriff as a distinctive policing modality. American Journal of Police, 14(1), 123–140.
American Journal of Police (PDF)