The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) is a U.S.

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. Through collabor ...

. Its stated purpose is to raise the level of professionalism among U.S.

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...

s, their deputies and others in the fields of

criminal justice Criminal justice is the delivery of justice to those who have been accused of committing crimes. The criminal justice system is a series of government agencies and institutions. Goals include the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other ...

and

public safety Public security or public safety is the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety and security of the public from significant danger, injury, or property damage. It is often conducted by a state government to ensu ...

. Since its founding in 1940, NSA has been the advocacy organization for the nation's sheriffs in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

Its Government Affairs Division, in conjunction with the Congressional Affairs Committee, develops the Association's policy positions and represents the Association before the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

, the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

, and the various federal agencies.

Purpose

The NSA provides resources, technical assistance, opportunities for professional development, information, congressional

advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...

, to criminal justice practitioners. Its annual conferences provide networking opportunities, discussion, review and formation of the Association's national policy positions on critical criminal justice and homeland security issues, and training and seminars for the Nation's sheriffs and sheriff deputies. The NSA represents over 3,000 elected sheriffs nationwide and has a membership of over 22,000. Its headquarters is in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...

History

The Articles of Incorporation for NSA were filed on September 26, 1940, with the Ohio Secretary of State. The first president was Sheriff Walter P. O'Neil. The National Sheriffs' Association badge has heraldic significance. According to their website, the shield denotes defense, protection, and faith. The

fasces A fasces ( ; ; a , from the Latin word , meaning 'bundle'; ) is a bound bundle of wooden rods, often but not always including an axe (occasionally two axes) with its blade emerging. The fasces is an Italian symbol that had its origin in the Etrus ...

denotes authority. The olive wreath denotes peace. The circle surrounding the emblem denotes eternity. The five points of the star denote friendship, guidance, honesty, integrity, and merit. In April 2024, the National Sheriffs' Association protested against the sale of Vista Outdoor to Czechoslovak Group.

Key programs

Neighborhood Watch A neighborhood watch or neighbourhood watch (see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences), also called a crime watch or neighbourhood crime watch, is an organized group of civilians devoted to crime a ...

is a program to have citizens work with law enforcement to deter crime. *National Sheriffs' Institute (NSI) trains new sheriffs.

Leadership

The 2019-20 President of the Association is Sheriff Daron Hall, of the Davidson County (TN) Sheriff's Office. The 2018-19 President of the Association was Sheriff John Layton of Indiana.

References

{{Authority control + Law enforcement non-governmental organizations in the United States Organizations based in Alexandria, Virginia 1940 establishments in Virginia Government-related professional associations in the United States Organizations established in 1940

Purpose

History

Key programs

Leadership

See also

References