Becky Coyle
About the Williamsons County Sheriffs Office
According to the Williamsons County Sheriffs Office, "Sheriffs also have many
duties that are civil in nature. They include the duty to execute and return,
according to law, the civil process and orders of the courts of record and
general sessions courts. Sheriffs and their deputies serve subpoenas, execute
writs of possession, levy writs of execution, which involve taking property to
satisfy judgments, serve garnishments, and serve orders of protection. Each of
these civil duties, as well as many others, have specific requirements, time
requirements, and duties with which the sheriff and deputy sheriffs must be
familiar. Additionally, the sheriff, or an officer designated by the sheriff,
must attend all courts held in the county. This is generally when a deputy
sheriff acts as court officer or bailiff. Sheriffs and their deputies operate
under strict legal standards and must strive to perform their duties correctly.
For example, failure to respect the civil rights of citizens, including
prisoners, can result in personal liability. The actions of sheriffs and
deputies often serve as the basis of lawsuits initiated by persons displeased
with what has happened to them. Sheriffs must be acquainted with the civil and
criminal aspects of the federal civil rights laws, the Tennessee Governmental
Tort Liability Act and numerous other laws."
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