Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 37, § 4 (2026)

Special sheriff; appointment; oath; bond; powers

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 4. He shall appoint a special sheriff, who shall be sworn and shall give such bond to the sheriff as he may require for the faithful discharge of his duties. A special sheriff shall have the authority of a deputy sheriff. Upon his qualification, the sheriff shall send a written notice thereof, giving the name and residence of the appointee, to the state secretary, who shall record such notice in a book kept for the purpose.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1968–2005 · leading case: Cape Cod Times v. Sheriff of Barnstable Cnty., 33 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2499 (Mass. 2005).

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Cape Cod Times v. Sheriff of Barnstable Cnty., 33 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2499 (Mass. 2005). “See G. L. c. 37, §§ 4, 5, and note 5, supra. Applicants authorize “the Sheriff of Barnstable County, Massachusetts” to conduct “a background investigation” and the special sheriff directs employees to use the resources of the office to perform such background checks.”

Fin. Comm'n v. Basile, 236 N.E.2d 520 (Mass. 1968). “The respondent is the special sheriff of Suffolk County by appointment pursuant to G. L. c. 37, § 4, and has the authority and performs the duties of a deputy sheriff.”

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