Training and Professionalism

"Professional" has been a difficult title for sheriffs to earn. Throughout history, the office of sheriff was awarded to the richest, the strongest, or the luckiest--but not necessarily the best qualified.

The National Sheriffs' Association was founded in 1940 to give a voice to the sheriffs of America. One of NSA's longstanding goals has been to professionalize the office of sheriff. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice issued a series of reports suggesting ways to improve the nation's criminal justice system. As a result of these reports, most states have established minimum standards--strongly supported by the NSA--for the selection, education, and training of all law enforcement officers, including sheriffs.

Through its magazine Sheriff, NSA encourages all sheriffs to extend their professional education by joining professional associations and by attending seminars, workshops and conferences. Sheriff magazine aids in the continuing education process by offering high-quality articles dealing with crucial issues in law enforcement and jail administration.

In addition, NSA invites every newly elected sheriff to attend its two-week National Sheriffs' Institute, conducted at the National Institute of Corrections in Longmont, Colorado. The Institute provides these sheriffs with the latest available information in such areas as management, technology, law, personnel, and jail administration.

Recently, the United States Department of Justice established the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, which provides law enforcement training at little or no cost to local sheriffs' offices. In addition, the National Institute of Corrections has set up a National Academy of Corrections in Boulder, Colorado, which offers courses for jail administrators, sheriffs, and others at a similarly minimal cost.

Unfortunately, many sheriffs' offices cannot afford to send people away for training--either because of budgetary constraints or because of personnel shortages. For this reason, NSA has developed a number of correspondence courses and self-study programs. Already, these programs have produced thousands of graduates who might not otherwise have received any professional training.