Prince William County Sheriff's Office


The Prince William County, Virginia Sheriff's Office was established in 1731 to provide law enforcement and jailers for the County. In 1970, the Board of County Supervisors established the Prince William County Police Department which assumed the primary responsibility for law enforcement. In 1982, the Prince William County Adult Detention Center opened and assumed the duties of jailers. The Sheriff is a constitutional office elected by the Prince William County, City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park to provide certain public safety services.

Divisions

Court Services

The Court Services Division includes both courtroom and courthouse security in and around the Prince William County Judicial Center Complex 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Deputies maintain order and facilitate the movement of prisoners in and out of the courtrooms. Duties include the protection of life and property for judges, court personnel, attorneys, citizens, prisoners and the entire court complex structure. State-of-the-art security systems are in place and all persons and packages entering the building are screened.

Operations

The Administrative Services section is responsible for processing all the civil papers the Department receives for service, collecting service fees, budgeting, and records management. Tracking and disbursement of civil papers is state mandated. The Sheriff's Office has integrated its records management system with the County's geographical information system for real-time address verification.

Professional Standards

The Office of Professional Standards is responsible for maintaining state accreditation, recruiting and training staff, and internal affairs investigations. This section also coordinates community service events and numerous partnerships with non-profit groups such as the Red Cross and the Rape Crisis Center. In 2005, the Sheriff's Office achieved re-accreditation for a second time, ensuring the highest level of standards are consistently met. New recruits must complete six months of basic law enforcement training.