Newport News Sheriff's Office
Encyclopedia
The Newport News Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency
of Newport News, Virginia
, headed by an elected Sheriff who serves a term of office of 4 years.
established the boundaries of Warwick County in Jamestown. The government of the counties was to parallel that of England. First and foremost was the appointment of a sheriff. The sheriff was responsible for collecting taxes, serving warrants, maintaining order in the county, protecting the court, and running the jail. He had no deputies but could call upon the militia for help when so required.
The first Warwick
County jail, courthouse and clerk’s office were built on the site where the City Farm now sits.
It was after the American Revolutionary War
that the Sheriff’s Office became an elected office and the duties expanded. Now, the sheriff was a law enforcement officer assigned to keeping the peace and maintaining law and order. It was at this time the sheriff was authorized to hire constables to assist in performing duties.
In 1810, a new municipal complex was constructed in Denbigh
, including a two-story jail. The sheriff’s office and two small cells occupied the first floor. And four cells were on the second. The sheriff was allocated fifty-cents per prisoner per day for food.
As time went on, expansions and renovations were made to the courthouse and jail. A new jail was built in the winter of 1899. But it became evident that “sick mortar” was used when prisoner escapes became frequent. The mortar used to bond the brick walls turned to powder when scratched. For repair, sheet iron lined cell walls.
During the 1920s and 30s, the biggest problem in the county were illegal distilleries. The jail reached peak capacity. Nearby Fort Eustis became a medium security prison for moonshiners in a seven-state area.
Citizens voted to be incorporated into Newport News in 1959. Before there was even a City of Newport News, there was a Sheriff of the region.
In August 1976, the current jail in downtown Newport News was built. It is a maximum security, seven-story building. It was originally designed to house 248 inmates. Renovations were completed in 1993.
Current jail problems parallel historic issues. The inmate population has exceeded peak capacity. During prohibition there was an abundance of illegal distilleries, while illegal drugs have become the main contemporary problem. Many crimes being committed throughout the city stem from drug activity.
It is the goal of the sheriff’s office to rehabilitate jail inmates and reduce recidivism
. Educational and work programs offered inside the jail are intended to help individuals succeed outside upon release. The Sheriff's Office also provides some law enforcement services alongside the Newport News Police Department, including three K-9 dog units, fugitive and drug interdiction units, motorcycle unit, traffic unit and court security unit.
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
of Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, headed by an elected Sheriff who serves a term of office of 4 years.
History
In 1634, the House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
established the boundaries of Warwick County in Jamestown. The government of the counties was to parallel that of England. First and foremost was the appointment of a sheriff. The sheriff was responsible for collecting taxes, serving warrants, maintaining order in the county, protecting the court, and running the jail. He had no deputies but could call upon the militia for help when so required.
The first Warwick
Warwick, Virginia
Warwick is an extinct independent city which was located in the State of Virginia in the United States from 1952 until 1958. Formed by a political conversion of the former Warwick County, Virginia , it is now part of the independent city of Newport News, Virginia.-History:Warwick River Shire, named...
County jail, courthouse and clerk’s office were built on the site where the City Farm now sits.
It was after the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
that the Sheriff’s Office became an elected office and the duties expanded. Now, the sheriff was a law enforcement officer assigned to keeping the peace and maintaining law and order. It was at this time the sheriff was authorized to hire constables to assist in performing duties.
In 1810, a new municipal complex was constructed in Denbigh
Denbigh, Virginia
Denbigh was a small unincorporated community in Warwick County, Virginia, and was long the county seat. After a municipal consolidation in 1958, it became a neighborhood of the independent city of Newport News.-History:...
, including a two-story jail. The sheriff’s office and two small cells occupied the first floor. And four cells were on the second. The sheriff was allocated fifty-cents per prisoner per day for food.
As time went on, expansions and renovations were made to the courthouse and jail. A new jail was built in the winter of 1899. But it became evident that “sick mortar” was used when prisoner escapes became frequent. The mortar used to bond the brick walls turned to powder when scratched. For repair, sheet iron lined cell walls.
During the 1920s and 30s, the biggest problem in the county were illegal distilleries. The jail reached peak capacity. Nearby Fort Eustis became a medium security prison for moonshiners in a seven-state area.
Citizens voted to be incorporated into Newport News in 1959. Before there was even a City of Newport News, there was a Sheriff of the region.
In August 1976, the current jail in downtown Newport News was built. It is a maximum security, seven-story building. It was originally designed to house 248 inmates. Renovations were completed in 1993.
Current jail problems parallel historic issues. The inmate population has exceeded peak capacity. During prohibition there was an abundance of illegal distilleries, while illegal drugs have become the main contemporary problem. Many crimes being committed throughout the city stem from drug activity.
It is the goal of the sheriff’s office to rehabilitate jail inmates and reduce recidivism
Recidivism
Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior...
. Educational and work programs offered inside the jail are intended to help individuals succeed outside upon release. The Sheriff's Office also provides some law enforcement services alongside the Newport News Police Department, including three K-9 dog units, fugitive and drug interdiction units, motorcycle unit, traffic unit and court security unit.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Virginia
- Newport News, VirginiaNewport News, VirginiaNewport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...