Title 15

The sheriff of each county is authorized to enter into agreements with the judge of the probate court or the clerk of the superior court of the county, or both, relative to the retention of newspapers or copies thereof. (Ga. L. 1974, p. 383, § 3.)

(a) The sheriffs of the various counties of this state are authorized to contract with the governing body of any municipal corporation located within their respective counties, with the written consent of the governing authority of the county, for the purpose of providing law enf…

Sheriffs and their legal deputies may administer oaths in all cases where, in discharge of the duties of the office of sheriff, it is legal for them to take bond and security or any affidavit which by law suspends the further execution of process in their hands. Such oaths, when …

The sheriff or other executing officer may amend his official entries and returns so as to make the entries and returns conform to the facts of the case at the time the entries or returns were made. (Orig. Code 1863, § 3426; Code 1868, § 3446; Code 1873, § 3497; Code 1882, § 3497…

If the sheriff or other executing officer fails to make an official return which by law he should have made, the entry or return may be made nunc pro tunc by order of the court, so as to make the proceedings conform to the facts at the time the entry should have been made. (Orig.…

No sheriff or deputy or other officer discharging a similar duty shall be permitted to purchase any property whatever at his own sale, either upon his own bid or upon the bid of any other person for him, directly or indirectly. All such sales and deeds in pursuance thereto, inten…

(a) The fee system of compensating the sheriffs of the various counties in this state or the fee system supplemented by a salary is abolished. No sheriff shall receive as any portion of his compensation for his services as such any fees, fines, forfeitures, costs, commissions, em…

A surety for any tax collector or other holder of public money is ineligible for the office of sheriff until all moneys for which he is bound have been paid to the proper authority. (Laws 1814, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 1060; Code 1863, § 321; Code 1868, § 382; Code 1873, § 346; Cod…

(a)(1) Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the minimum annual salary of each sheriff in this state shall be fixed according to the population of the county in which he or she serves, as determined by the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census;…

In addition to the minimum salary provided in Code Section 15-16-20, the sheriff of any county who performs the duties of a sheriff for a state court, probate court, magistrate court, juvenile court, or county recorder’s court under any applicable general or local law of this sta…

In addition to any salary, fees, or expenses now or hereafter provided by law, the governing authority of each county is authorized to provide as contingent expenses for the operation of the office of sheriff, and payable from county funds, a monthly expense allowance of not less…

(a) Reserved. (b) For the services of the sheriff in civil cases, the following fees shall be charged: (1) Serving copy of process and returning original, per copy .......................................................... $ 50.00 (2) Action from another county, to be paid in adv…

For serving any process, summons, or notice in a county other than the county of his residence, a sheriff shall charge 10¢ per mile for each mile traveled outside the county of his residence, whether the service is made by the sheriff or by a deputy. The fees shall be taxed as a …

Sheriffs are authorized in their discretion to appoint one or more deputies. Each deputy shall be required to execute a bond with a surety in the amount of $5,000.00 payable to the sheriff and conditioned upon the faithful accounting for all public and other funds or property com…

Sheriffs are liable for the misconduct of their jailers as they are liable for their deputies; and persons injured by a jailer have the same option in bringing an action on the jailer’s bond that they have in bringing an action on the deputy’s bond, provided that the sheriff shal…

Where sheriffs hire property out after it has been levied upon, they are liable to the proper party for the hire received. (Orig. Code 1863, § 339; Code 1868, § 400; Ga. L. 1871-72, p. 51, § 1; Code 1873, § 365; Code 1882, § 365; Civil Code 1895, § 4385; Civil Code 1910, § 4919; …

(a) Whenever the Governor determines that an investigation of a sheriff of this state should be made as a result of criminal charges, alleged misconduct in office, or alleged incapacity of the sheriff to perform the functions of his office, he shall appoint two sheriffs who are m…

(a) Unless transferred to the appropriate clerk of court, the sheriff shall deposit cash bonds held by the sheriff in one or more interest-bearing trust accounts in investments authorized by Code Section 36-80-3 or by Chapter 83 of Title 36. (b) The financial institution in which…

In any county there may be created by local Act of the General Assembly a merit board to hear and decide appeals from disciplinary actions against deputies and other employees of the sheriff of the county; provided, however, that no such merit board or appeals procedure shall bec…

(a) Intent. The General Assembly declares it to be the purpose of this Code section to promote the orderly transfer of the law enforcement power of the several counties of this state in connection with the expiration of the term of office of the sheriff and the taking of office o…

Before entering on the duties of their office the sheriffs shall take and subscribe, in addition to the oath required of all civil officers, the following oath before the judge of the superior court or the judge of the probate court: ‘‘I do swear that I will faithfully execute al…

Without limiting the generality of the oath set out in Code Section 15-16-4, it shall be a violation of a sheriff’s oath of office for any sheriff to engage either directly or indirectly in a private security, private investigation, bail bonding, or wrecker towing business in the…

The sheriffs shall give a bond in the sum of $25,000.00, which amount may be increased in any county by local Act, conditioned for the faithful accounting for all public and other funds or property coming into the sheriffs’ or their deputies’ custody, control, care, or possession…

(a) The bond given by the sheriff shall be approved by the judge of the probate court and then deposited in the office of the clerk of the superior court until the first session of that court thereafter, when the presiding judge shall examine the bond. If it has been taken in con…

When the sheriff’s bond has been approved by the judge of the probate court and before it is deposited in the clerk’s office, it shall be recorded in the office of the judge of the probate court and, after being passed upon by the judge of the superior court, it shall be returned…

(a) Except as otherwise provided by local law, vacancies in the office of sheriff shall be filled by the chief deputy sheriff if a chief deputy has been appointed. In any county in which a chief deputy sheriff has not been appointed, the probate judge shall, within three days of …

Sheriffs must keep their offices at the same places and on the same terms as clerks of the superior court are required to do. (Orig. Code 1863, § 329; Code 1868, § 390; Code 1873, § 354; Code 1882, § 354; Civil Code 1895, § 4377; Civil Code 1910, § 4911; Code 1933, § 24-2810.)

(a) There is created the honorary office of sheriff emeritus of the State of Georgia. Any sheriff of any county of this state who retires under honorable conditions after having attained the age of 75 years and after having served as sheriff for 45 or more years shall automatical…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Sheriff Offices’ Nomenclature Act of 1997.’’ (Code 1981, § 15-16-50, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 1496, § 1.)

It is declared to be contrary to the health, safety, and public welfare of the people of this state for any individual or organization to act in a manner which would mislead the public into believing that a member of the public is dealing with any sheriff’s office or with a membe…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Badge’’ means any official badge used in the past or present by members of any sheriff’s office. (2) ‘‘Emblem’’ means any official patch or other emblem worn currently or formerly or used by the sheriff’s office to identify the office or i…

Whoever, except with the express written permission of the sheriff, knowingly uses words pertaining to such sheriff’s office in connection with the planning, conduct, or execution of any solicitation; advertisement, circular, political endorsement, book, pamphlet, or other public…

The sheriff, at his or her sole discretion, shall determine any symbol, seal, badge, or other nomenclature to be used by the sheriff’s office so long as the use of any such nomenclature is not in violation of any other state or federal law. Any person who uses or displays any cur…

Any person wishing permission to use either sheriff’s office nomenclature or symbols may request such permission in writing to the chief deputy sheriff or other person designated by the sheriff. Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the request, the chief deputy sheriff shall …

Whenever there shall be an actual or threatened violation of Code Section 15-16-53 or 15-16-54, the sheriff shall have the right to apply to the superior court of the county of residence of the violator for an injunction to restrain the violation. (Code 1981, § 15-16-56, enacted …

In addition to any other relief or sanction for a violation of Code Section 15-16-53 or 15-16-54, where the violation is willful, the sheriff shall be entitled to collect a civil penalty in the amount of $500.00 for each violation. Further, when there is a finding of willful viol…

Any person who has given money or any other item of value to another person due in part to such person’s use of a sheriff’s office nomenclature or symbols in violation of this article may maintain a suit for damages against the violator. Where it is proven that the violation was …

Any person who violates the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $5,000.00 or to imprisonment for not less than one or more than five years, or both. Each violation sh…

The district attorney is the successor to the office of solicitor-general as it existed prior to July 1, 1977. (Code 1933, § 24-2904, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 1257, § 1.)

(a) (For effective date, see note.) Each district attorney shall receive an annual salary from state funds as prescribed by law. Such salary shall be paid as provided in Code Sections 15-18-10.1 and 15-18-19. (b) The county or counties comprising the judicial circuit may suppleme…

(a) Whenever a circuit has implemented a drug court division, mental health court division, or veterans court division, then on and after January 1, 2016, the state shall pay the district attorney in such circuit an annual accountability court supplement of $6,000.00. Such supple…

In addition to any other compensation or county supplement provided by law, any county, by appropriate action of the county governing authority, is authorized to supplement from county funds the salary of the district attorney for the judicial circuit in which the county lies for…

(a) The district attorney and any personnel compensated by the state pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to receive, in addition to such other compensation as may be provided by law, reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their o…

The bill of costs and any filing fees in appeals or applications filed in the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals on behalf of the state by a district attorney shall be paid by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of the State of Georgia out of such funds as may be appropriated f…

(a)(1) Subject to the provisions of this Code section, the district attorney in each judicial circuit is authorized to appoint: (A) One attorney for each superior court judge authorized for the circuit, excluding senior judges, plus one additional attorney to assist the district …

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Code section, the district attorney in each judicial circuit is authorized to appoint one investigator to assist the district attorney in the performance of his or her official duties in the preparation of cases for indictment or trial. Subje…