Explained: What a Sheriff Does – and Why Clayton's Sheriff Runoff Matters

Clayton County voters will – once again – go to the polls on June 18 to choose their next sheriff.

The May 21 Democratic primary election did not produce an outright winner among a large field of contenders for the office, so the top two vote-getters face off again: incumbent Sheriff Levon Allen and Presiding Officer Jeffrey Turner. of the Clayton County Commission and former police chief.

But what does a sheriff do? In Georgia, they run a county-wide law enforcement operation, including monitoring the county jail. Unlike municipal police chiefs who answer to mayors and city councils who appoint them, sheriffs are elected directly by voters.

Georgia law establishes a long list of sheriffs' responsibilities, with hundreds of mentions in the statute.

Among them, the main ones:

• Execute court orders, such as evictions and arrest warrants.
• Ensure the security of courthouses, which includes the presence of bailiffs.
• Operate and maintain the county jail (in counties with a population of at least 350,000).
• Assists in impounding dangerous livestock or dogs.
• Maintain the sex offender registry.
• Determining the legal status of immigrants detained by the sheriff's office.

In Clayton, as in Fulton County, the county jail has sparked public concern over deterioration and unsafe conditions, including water leaks, mold and overcrowding.

Dates of the second round of elections to remember:

• Friday June 7: Last day to request a postal vote.
• Saturday June 8: Early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday to Friday June 10-14: early voting from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday June 18: Election Day. Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.