How sheriffs define law and order for their counties depends a lot on their views − and most are white Republican men
- Written by Mirya Holman, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Houston
A sheriff gestures.Ed Jones/AFP via Getty ImagesMany Americans will find on their November 2024 ballot a space to vote for an important office: local sheriff. While there are exceptions, sheriffs have a long history of using their power to maintain a particular, unequal balance of power in society, often along racial and class lines.
A recent...