alguacil

Alguacil (in Spanish), aguazil or guazil (in Portuguese) is the title for a number of governmental office-holders.

Origin

The term ''alguacil'' is derived from the Arabic term (''wazir''), meaning Vizier. The first known use of the term dates back to 1579.

Historical use

Constable

In Nahuatl, the term ''alguacil'' is a Spanish loanword that means constable or a sub- Cabildo officer.

Judge

There were two types of judges named ''Alguacils'': The ''Alguaciles Mayores'' (Chief Justice) and ''Alguaciles Menores'' (Justice).

The Alguacils of higher importance were the Alguaciles Mayores. These positions were held by the most prominent families, so they approximated the office of '' Regidores''. (At first they were also in charge of the local prison (jail), but this function was passed very soon to the responsibility of the ''Alcaide'' or warden.) Their function was to arrest people provided by the ''Inquisitor'' or investigators and the seizure of their property. To do this one had to be accompanied by the recipient, their family members and the ''Secretary (minister) of Arrests'' (sheriff). He could seek the support of civil authorities. It also ensured the safety of the detainees (defendants), because they had no communications with others except, of course, those authorized by the investigators. Among the junior officers, the Alguacil Mayor held the largest category with the ''Secret Notaries''. The others functions of an Alguacil Mayor were:
* Execute the statements
* Imprison the criminals
* Resolve public order issues
* Appoint wardens of prisons
* Intervene in cases of relevant people

The title has also been given to inspectors of weights and measures in marketplaces, and similar officials.

Sheriff

In history, an Alguacil is a sheriff of a Spanish municipality who acted as the executive officer of the courses, and is considered to be the equivalent of a modern bailiff. An Alguacil will execute the decisions of an alcalde, or a local judge, and will receive a portion of the judgments he executes.

An alguacil, as the principal police officer of a municipality, was allowed to carry arms during town patrols. The same privilege was extended to the alguacil's assistants, known in Spanish as ''tenientes''. An alguacil was not allowed to hold another office, or to have a business.

Modern use

In Latin American countries or regions under Spanish influence, ''alguacil'' is currently the name for the office of sheriff or constable.

In the United States, Alguacil is used as the equivalent Spanish term for sheriff. However, the term "sheriff" has also been used, untranslated, in Spanish publications in the United States.

The term ''alguacil aéreo'' has been used as the equivalent Spanish term for Air Marshal, and the name ''Cuerpo de Alguaciles de Estados Unidos'' has been used as the Spanish name for the United States Marshals Service.

Surname

The title is also used as a surname. The following people with the surname "Alguacil" include
*Imanol Alguacil (born 1971), Spanish retired footballer
* Alberto Losada Alguacil (born 1982), Spanish retired road bicycle racer

See also

*Juan de la Cosa
*Timoji

References

{{reflist

Region-specific legal occupations
Spanish words and phrases

es:Alguacil
fr:Alguazil (corrida)