Va. Code » Title 15.2. Counties, Cities and Towns » Subtitle II. Powers of Local Government » Chapter 16. Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies » Article 3. Sheriff
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-1609 (2026)

Sheriff

✓ current as of May 2026
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The voters in every county and city shall elect a sheriff unless otherwise provided by general law or special act. The sheriff shall exercise all the powers conferred and perform all the duties imposed upon sheriffs by general law. He shall enforce the law or see that it is enforced in the locality from which he is elected; assist in the judicial process as provided by general law; and be charged with the custody, feeding and care of all prisoners confined in the county or city jail. He may perform such other duties, not inconsistent with his office, as may be requested of him by the governing body. The sheriff shall be elected as provided by general law for a term of four years.

1997, c. 587.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 2004–2023 · leading case: Brown v. Mitchell, 327 F. Supp. 2d 615 (E.D. Va. 2004).
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Brown v. Mitchell, 327 F. Supp. 2d 615 (E.D. Va. 2004). · cites it 8× “Under Virginia law, sheriffs — who are elected, Va.Code Ann. § 15.2-1609, constitutional officers separate and distinct from the localities in which they serve, Va.”
Mark McCaffrey v. Michael Chapman, 921 F.3d 159 (4th Cir. 2019). · cites it 2× “See Va. Code §§ 15.2-1609–15.2-1625 (1997). Virginia law prescribes a mandatory procedure for filling a vacancy in the sheriff’s office.”
Fuller v. Carilion Clinic, 382 F. Supp. 3d 475 (W.D. Va. 2019). · cites it 2× “The authority of a private police department shall be limited to real property owned, leased, or controlled by the entity and, if approved by the local chief of police or sheriff, any contiguous property; such authority shall not supersede the authority, duties, or jurisdiction…”
Bland v. Roberts, 857 F. Supp. 2d 599 (E.D. Va. 2012). · cites it 2× “In the Commonwealth of Virginia, sheriffs are constitutional officers. See Va.”
McClary v. Jenkins (Va. 2020). · cites it 2× “The circuit court relied on Code §§ 15.2-1609, 15.2-1730.1, and 19.2-81.”
Reynolds v. Dickenson Cnty. Sheriff Dept. (W.D. Va. 2020). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. §§ 15.2-1609 , 15.2- 1609.1.”
Saunders v. Bell (W.D. Va. 2021). · cites it 2× “State law, Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-1609 , gives the sheriff the authority to set policy regarding the “custody, feeding and care of all prisoners confined in the county or city jail.”
Galvin v. Grimm (W.D. Va. 2021). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. §§ 15.2-1609 , 15.2- 2 1609.”
Shafer v. Carter (W.D. Va. 2022). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. §§ 15.2-1609 , 15.2-1609.1.”
Goodwin v. Vanburn (W.D. Va. 2022). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. §§ 15.2-1609 , 15.2-1609.1.”
Babb v. Woody (W.D. Va. 2022). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. §§ 15.2-1609 , 15.2-1609.1.”
Moore v. Parsons (W.D. Va. 2020). “§§15.2-1609 , 15.2-1609.1. Accordingly, any claims against the Jonesville Sheriff’s Office (or Lee County Sheriff’s Office) must be dismissed.”
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