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History of the Sheriff's Office
The Office of the Sheriff is one of antiquity. It is the oldest law enforcement office known within the common law system and it has always been accorded great dignity and high trust. Man's quest for equity and order gave birth to the Office of Sheriff. Today, the County Sheriff is a peace officer entrusted with the maintenance of law and order and the presentation of domestic tranquility. The Office of Sheriff and the law enforcement, judicial, and correctional functions he performs are more than 1,000 years old. When the first counties were established in Virginia in 1634, the Office of Sheriff in America began. Today, Sheriffs are elected officials who serve as Chief Law Enforcement Officers for a county. The Sheriff's Office is generally active in all three branches of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.
Twenty Sheriff's have served in Southampton County starting in 1854. John (Jack) B. Stutts, serves as the current Sheriff of Southampton County and was elected in 2011. Past Sheriff's of Southampton County are as follows:
John (Jack) B. Stutts 2011-Present
Vernie W. Francis, Jr. 1984-2011
Ryland Brooks 1960-1984
Thomas Briggs Bell 1926-1960
Charles A. Bell 1921-1926
C. L. Grizzard 1916-1921
John I. Turner 1908-1916
J. Lewis Gillette 1904-1908
Frank P. Pulley 1901-1904
J. W. Williams 1887-1901
J. L. Barham 1886-1887
George W. Vick 1885-1886
William W. Briggs 1871-1885
George W. Vick 1870-1871
D.L. Doles 1869-1870
Samuel Kello 1867-1869
William W. Briggs 1865-1867
Samuel Kello 1863-1865
William W. Briggs 1857-1863
Samuel Kello 1854-1857
Southampton County Sheriff's Office
22336 Main Street
Courtland, VA 23837
Non-Emergency (757) 653-2100
Emergency 911
Administration Office Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon - Fri
Crime Prevention
Community Works
Career Opportunities
Sheriff's Office History
Accreditation Process
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