Within the Criminal Division are the Deputies and Detectives. The primary function of the Criminal Division is law enforcement. Responding to citizen's calls for assistance, investigation of crimes committed, traffic law enforcement through pro-active traffic stops, and crime prevention through public education.

The Criminal Division is supervised by Patrol Sergeants and Captains. The Criminal Division consists of several divisions which include Patrol and Investigations.

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Patrol

Responsible for providing quality law enforcement services to unincorporated Jefferson County to include protection of life, property and preservation of the peace.

Patrol Deputies are responsible for covering approximately 400 miles of county roads throughout the 1,850 square miles of Jefferson County. The 13 patrol deputies respond to criminal as well as civil complaints, investigate crimes and traffic accidents, enforce traffic laws and serve civil papers.

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Investigations
                                                                      

The Detective Division is comprised of three detectives who are responsible for conducting complex and major criminal investigations. The most common types of cases investigated by the detectives include: death, felony assault, sexual assault, child/elder neglect and abuse, robbery, burglary, theft and fraud.

The detectives initiate and conduct investigations of illegal drug use, sales, and manufacture in Jefferson County. The Detective Division also acts as an educational and informational resource for the public and other governmental agencies regarding illegal drugs, their use, and the drug subculture, and provides information regarding child safety issues.

The Detective Division is responsible for registering and monitoring convicted sex offenders. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office considers the safety of community members to be of the utmost importance and therefore subscribes to the objectives of the 1990 Community Protection Act, which is to provide adequate notice to the public concerning sex offenders who are, or will be, residing in their communities.

Polygraph support for criminal investigations and pre-employment screening is provided by the Detective Division's on-staff polygraph examiner. Polygraph examinations are utilized to further the investigations of crimes ranging from homicide to theft.

While detectives are not as visible to the public as patrol officers, they play a vital role in the success of the Sheriff's Office. On major crimes the detectives often take up where patrol leaves off, gathering the detailed information necessary for a successful prosecution.

Detectives also play a role in community policing. Detectives often see patterns in thefts, drug activity, assaults and other crimes that can be positively impacted by working with citizens and patrol officers to find solutions to these problems.