Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee
Connecticut Sheriffs System
Introduction
Connecticut Sheriffs System
Introduction
The primary responsibilities of sheriffs in Connecticut are transporting prisoners, providing security at courthouses, and serving legal papers. The sheriffs system is organized geographically according to the lines of the state's eight counties. Overall authority is shared by the elected high sheriff from each county and the Sheriffs’ Advisory Board. During the past few years, steps have been taken to standardize a number of policies and administrative operations statewide.
The General Fund appropriation for the Office of the County Sheriffs in state fiscal year 2000 is $27 million. This money will be used almost exclusively for security and transportation activities.
The gross revenue reported by sheriffs in calendar year 1998 was nearly $13 million, most of which came from service of process work. Net income after expenses was reported to be $7.5 million.
In 1994, the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee issued a report on the state sheriffs system. Although changes were made as a result of that report, the overall organizational structure of the system remained the same. In September 1999, the committee voted to update the information contained in its earlier report and evaluate alternative models for the performance of the duties of the sheriffs.
Report Format
This report is divided into five chapters. The first contains definitions and describes the roles of the individuals and entities involved in the sheriffs system in Connecticut. The second describes current staffing and budget expenditures for the system. The third chapter lists the recommendations the program review committee made during its earlier study and describes changes made in the sheriffs system since that report. The fourth chapter summarizes methods used in other states to carry out the types of functions performed by Connecticut sheriffs.
Chapter Five compares the current sheriffs system and alternative approaches that could be used for the courthouse security, prisoner transportation, and service of process functions, including the estimated cost of each. It also contains a set of recommendations.
Appendix A provides a brief history of sheriffs in Connecticut, and Appendix B presents a comparison of the individual counties. Appendix C lists the Connecticut statutes concerning sheriffs, while Appendix D summarizes information about who performs service of process nationwide including Connecticut. Appendix E contains the detailed calculations for the estimated costs of the options considered by the committee.
Agency Response
It is the policy of the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee to provide agencies subject to a study with an opportunity to review and comment on the recommendations prior to publication of the final report. None chose to submit a formal response.