The
American sheriffs today continue to be the main source of crime control in the
rural areas. When the sheriff’s office first appeared in the colonies, it had
minimal changes from that of the English model. The power of appointment, was,
however, vested in the governor. The duties of the US Marshalls included caring
for prisoners, apprehending criminals, collecting taxes, conducting elections,
and executing civil processes.
The old west system kept with the English
tradition of keeping the sheriffs’ term of office for a very short period of
one year (US Marshalls of the Old West film). It is because the colonist feared
the extortion and oppression by the sheriffs. The sheriff’s tremendous
influence and power were from their duties of conducting elections and
collecting taxes.
By
the 19th century, the popular figure of the sheriffs had become legendary in
the Wild West. The frontier sheriffs made use of the posse comitatus concept as
a vital machine of the old criminal justice system. This concept enabled the
sheriffs to deputize citizens so as to help them capture outlaws and other
duties. It is a concept similar to the present day, community policing.
Community policing is whereby the local citizens work hand in hand with the
police to control crime in the community. By the 20th century, the duties and
powers of the sheriffs in America change with minimal function and status. Not much has changed in the present day
because the sheriffs still have the power to authorize the use of police
powers. Today the major duties of the marshal service include conducting
fugitive investigations, judicial security, and witness security. They also
transport criminal aliens and federal prisoners, providing prisoner services.
Others are conducting special operations such as securely assistance when
moving cruise missiles between military facilities. They also dispose of and
manage forfeited and seized property.
US
Marshalls of the Old West film.
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