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Constables' roles debated in context of budget crisis

County-level budget crises are raising long-simmering questions about the proper role of constables and whether they should act as mini-Sheriff's departments or stick to serving civil papers and acting as court bailiffs. In Van Zandt County in East Texas:Precinct 4 Constable Pat Jordan spoke earlier this week about the history of the office of constable in Texas."The first form of law enforcement in Texas, as it was being settled, was the constable," Jordan said."The state constitution gives us the rights and duties of any other peace officer," he continued. "Really, the only difference between a constable and the county sheriff is that a constable is given the duties of bailiffing the precinct (justice of the peace) court and serving civil process papers, and the sheriff is the keeper of the jail...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on August 04, 2010 (boomark / email).