The Sheriff of Tomorrow

With the 1980s and 90s has come a new breed of sheriff. Far from the stereotypical shoot 'em up lawman of the movies and television, today's sheriff is likely to have a college degree, a graduate degree in criminal justice, law or public administration, and several years' experience in the criminal justice system. Law enforcement is becoming increasingly complex as we approach the year 2000. For the progressive, forward-looking sheriffs' offices of today, education and training are the keys to effective job performance.

Nobody knows what kinds of new technology the twenty-first century will bring. Chances are, however, that people will remain very much the same. And therefore, the job of the sheriff will remain much the same as well. We will still need sheriffs to enforce the law, to safeguard the courts, and to maintain the jails. No matter what else changes, the sheriff's motto will remain: "We Serve and Protect."