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Simple English definitions for legal terms
undersheriff
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A quick definition of undersheriff:
An undersheriff is a person who works closely with the sheriff, who is the chief peace officer of a county. They help with many of the duties of the sheriff's office, such as keeping people in jail, carrying out legal orders, and enforcing the law. Some people use the term "deputy sheriff" to mean the same thing as undersheriff, but others say that an undersheriff is a more permanent position. In Scotland, a sheriff is a judge who hears cases at the county level.
A more thorough explanation:
An undersheriff is a type of deputy sheriff who performs most of the duties of the sheriff's office under the direction of the sheriff. The term undersheriff is sometimes used to distinguish a permanent deputy from a deputy appointed for a special occasion or purpose.
In most jurisdictions, the sheriff is the chief peace officer of a county who is usually elected. The sheriff is responsible for maintaining law and order, executing civil and criminal process, and carrying out judicial mandates within the county. The undersheriff assists the sheriff in these duties and may act as custodian of the county jail.
For example, if the sheriff is unavailable or incapacitated, the undersheriff may assume the duties of the sheriff. The undersheriff may also be responsible for managing the budget and personnel of the sheriff's office.
In Scots law, the term sheriff refers to the chief judge at the county level who has limited criminal and unlimited civil jurisdiction. The sheriff may not hear cases of murder or some minor offenses. In medieval times, the sheriff was the king's representative in the shires and had military, administrative, and judicial functions.