Michigan Occupational Information System
#092 - SHERIFF & BAILIFF   

Sheriffs maintain law and order and serve the legal processes of the courts.  

Bailiffs maintain order in a courtroom during a trial and guard the jury from outside contact.  

JOB DUTIES

Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs may:

Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators  

Take prisoners to or from courtrooms or from one prison to another  

Assume control at traffic accidents and assist accident victims  

Investigate illegal or suspicious activities  

Locate and take persons into custody on arrest warrants  

Investigate causes of accidents  

Provide protection to court personnel, jurors, and witnesses or their families  

Serve civil and criminal writs  

Guard prisoners during prisoners' hospitalization  

Bailiffs may:

Open court by announcing the arrival of the judge or referee  

Usher spectators to seats within the courtroom  

Maintain order and enforce courtroom rules of behavior  

Administer the oath to witnesses before they testify  

Close court by announcing the departure of the judge or referee  

Provide a jury escort to areas outside the courtroom  

Guard the lodging of a sequestered (secluded) jury  

The tools and equipment used by Sheriffs and Bailiffs may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Sheriffs & Bailiffs may specialize in these areas:

377.263-010 DEPUTY SHERIFFS maintain law and order and serve the legal processes of the courts. They patrol assigned areas to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and arrest violators. They may drive vehicles through assigned areas, observing traffic violations and issuing citations.  

377.667-010 BAILIFFS maintain order in a courtroom during a trial and guard the jury from outside contact. They are court officers who check the courtroom for security and cleanliness. They enforce courtroom rules of behavior and warn persons not to smoke or disturb court procedure.  

377.267-010 DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHALS are political appointees who enforce law and order under the jurisdiction of Federal courts. They also assist Federal agencies in matters such as investigations, raids, and arrests as directed.  

377.667-018 CIVIL DIVISION DEPUTY SHERIFFS serve orders of civil courts such as subpoenas, garnishments, property executions, commitments, and show cause orders to individuals.  

377.667-014 BUILDING GUARD DEPUTY SHERIFFS patrol and provide security for courthouses and courts, and escort defendants.  

377.363-010 GRAND JURY DEPUTY SHERIFFS  

In addition to learning about these specialties, it may also be helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The sizes of Michigan Sheriffs' departments range from one officer or two officers in small rural counties to several hundred in large counties.  

Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs may work alone or in small groups. Most often they will team as pairs after dark. They walk their patrols or ride depending upon the nature of their duties.  

Since patrol duty demands an awareness of unusual circumstances, Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs must be alert to disturbances and hazards to public safety and be ready to recognize stolen items and missing or wanted persons.  

The amount of time a Sheriff may work in an office or outdoors depends upon the size of the Sheriff's department and required duties. Deputy Sheriffs may work at headquarters in training and/or reporting phases but are seldom there for more than one or two hours a day. They may have to work outdoors for long periods of time in all kinds of weather. Bailiffs work in the courtroom.  

Sheriffs and deputies may be required to travel to perform their job duties, such as escorting prisoners to and from jail. U.S. Marshals usually travel greater distances than Sheriffs do because they work with Federal courts in different states.  

The scheduled workweek is usually 40 hours although officers are required to be on call for duty and may work overtime in emergency situations. They may have weekend, holiday or night duty.  

Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in Michigan may or may not have be furnished with uniforms, depending on the area. They are usually furnished with equipment such as revolvers and handcuffs. Sheriffs and ex-Sheriffs may belong to the Michigan Sheriffs' Association and pay membership dues.  

You Should Prefer:

• Law enforcement work  

• Activities that involve helping people with problems/giving advice  

• Activities concerned with communication of information  

You Should Be Able To:

• Work with other people  

• Understand the problems of youth  

• Make difficult decisions and work under stress  

• Stay mentally alert  

• Handle security problems and domestic problems  

• Use firearms  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

There are 12 arrests for drunkenness on Friday, five times as many on Saturday, and 4/5 as many on Sunday as Saturday. How many arrests were made on Saturday and Sunday?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Law enforcement terminology and procedures, such as, latent sole prints, letter of transmittal, physical surveillance, henry system of classification, entrapment, culpable negligence.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a written report following an arrest.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Analytical skills, decision-making skills, and be detail oriented in maintaining law and order.  

To become a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff in Michigan, you must be a U.S. citizen, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, be at least 18 years old (in some departments 21 years), meet minimum physical requirements, have no prior felony convictions, and have a valid driver's or chauffeur's license. The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click here for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Law Enforcement Officer for specific licensing information. Sheriffs are excluded from the state law.  

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1300 ENGLISH , 1700 GOVERNMENT , 1900 HISTORY , 2200 MATH , 2700 PHYSICAL EDUCATION , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

028 LAW ENFORCEMENT

Approved vocational education programs in Law Enforcement prepare students in theories, principles, and techniques of developing, administering, and managing services for the safety and protection of people.  

Trade and industrial programs may be required for completion of this program.  

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

091 LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS

Programs in Law Enforcement and Corrections provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment in protective services, local police forces, county sheriff departments, Michigan State Police, the Michigan Department of Corrections, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  

Courses within this program vary but may include:

  Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript    

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the Military web site at http://www.myfuture.com  

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY OFFICERS

The military services have their own police forces to protect lives and property on military bases and to patrol out coastal waters. Law enforcement directors command military police units that enforce laws and investigate crimes. They also plan and direct programs to protect property, communications, and classified information.  

What They Do

Law enforcement and security officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:  

• Direct the enforcement of military law  

• Develop policies and programs to prevent crime and reduce traffic accidents  

• Supervise the arrest, custody, transfer, and release of offenders  

• Plan and direct criminal investigations and investigations of suspected treason, sabotage, or espionage  

• Plan for the security of military bases and office buildings and direct security procedures  

• Manage military correctional facilities  

• Help in ballistics, forgery, fingerprinting, and polygraph (lie detector) examinations  

Special Requirements

A 4-year college degree is normally required to enter this occupation. Some specialties require further education or prior experience in law enforcement and security.  

Helpful Attributes

Helpful fields of study include business administration, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and public administration. Helpful attributes include:  

• Interest in law enforcement and crime prevention  

• Interest in planning and directing the work of others  

Work Environment

Law enforcement and security officers in the military usually work in offices while planning and directing law enforcement and security activities. They may work outdoors while directing investigations, observing prisoners, and inspecting security systems.  

Training Provided

Job training consists of 7 to 28 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:  

• Law enforcement administration  

• Management of security problems  

• Investigation procedures and reporting  

• Military law  

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian law enforcement and security officers work for federal, state, and local prisons, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and private security companies. Some also operate their own security firms or become private detectives. They perform duties similar to those performed in the military. They may also be called police chiefs, chief inspectors, prison wardens, security managers, or chief deputy sheriffs.  

Opportunities

The services have about 2,400 law enforcement and security officers. On average, they need 125 new law enforcement and security officers each year. After job training, officers are assigned to command police, security, or investigative units. Depending on ability and experience, law enforcement directors may be assigned to direct one or more large law enforcement units.      

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Experience in law enforcement may be gained through part-time work with local police or sheriff departments. Secondary vocational education programs in law enforcement as well as postsecondary programs in law enforcement and corrections may offer co-op opportunities through which experience may be gained. Experience may be gained in military service also.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Sheriff & Bailiff employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Sheriff & Bailiff employer  

community service work with an agency  

If a civil service system is adopted by county referendum, a Michigan county may use competitive Civil Service examinations for the positions of Deputy Sheriff and Bailiff. However, they are usually appointed by the Sheriff, who is an elected official. Persons interested in these positions should contact county Sheriffs. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Classifieds Employment ( http://www.classifieds2000.com )  

Yahoo! Careers ( http://careers.yahoo.com/ )  

Michigan Department of Career Development ( http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd )  

Michigan Works! ( http://www.michworks.org )  

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Entry level salaries vary widely from the small, rural counties to larger, more metropolitan counties. Nationally, in 2001, median annual earnings of Sheriffs and Bailiffs were about $33,644 a year. The median yearly earnings of  "all" workers in the U.S. were $31,044 in 2001.   

 Annual salaries in several Michigan counties in (early 2001)were:  

U.S. Marshals are paid under the Federal General Schedule: all are GS-13 or above. Their annual starting rate was $59,409 in 2002. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.  

Benefits may include paid holidays and vacations; hospitalization, life, and medical insurance; and a pension plan. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.  

Deputy Sheriffs may advance to sergeant or lieutenant. Promotions come at the discretion of the Sheriff. Some factors considered are supervisory ratings, seniority, and exam scores.  

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were about 606,800 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers employed in 2000, another 13,600 were employed as Bailiffs. Employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010.    

Increasing population and crime and more concentrated effort by cities and counties to enforce their laws and ordinances have resulted in a steady demand for law enforcement officers. However, the number employed will depend on the amount of money made available by local governments to sheriff's departments.  

There are approximately 1,650 Sheriffs, Deputies, and Bailiffs employed in Michigan. All were employed by county governments.  

The employment in this occupation is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. An average of 50annual openings is expected, during this period, with 40 due to growth and 10 due to replacement of workers who retire, die, or leave the labor force. Additional openings will occur to replace officers who transfer to other jobs or occupations. The short-term outlook for personnel in the law enforcement field is somewhat unfavorable, but is expected to improve. The number of officers employed by Sheriffs' departments in Michigan, as well as nationwide, will depend on the availability of funds to the various county governments. The best employment opportunities will be for persons with some college training in law enforcement.  

MICHIGAN'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2008  

EMPLOYMENT                     NUMBER                         PERCENT                             PROJECTED YEARLY   REGION                                 EMPLOYED                     GROWTH                             JOB OPENINGS  

  Ann Arbor Area                    100                                    25.5                                       4

  Battle Creek Area                  40                                     17.5                                        1

  Benton Harbor Area              50                                      25.0                                       1

  Central Michigan                   50                                      22.9                                       1

  Detroit MSA                         580                                    22.4                                      18

  East Central Michigan            45                                      20.9                                       1

  Flint Area                              95                                      16.0                                       3

  Grand Rapids Area                40                                     26.2                                       1

  Jackson Area                         45                                     21.7                                       1

  Kalamazoo Area                    40                                    28.6                                       1

  Lansing MSA                         70                                    25.4                                       3

  Muskegon Area                     10                                    33.3                                       0

  Northeast Lower Peninsula     50                                   26.5                                        1

  Northwest Lower Peninsula    95                                   24.7                                        3

  Saginaw MSA                        65                                  28.4                                         3

  Thumb Area                           80                                  28.2                                         3

  Upper Peninsula                    185                                 30.1                                         8

  West Central Michigan           50                                 16.7                                          1    

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area  

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.