Gaston County Sheriff's Office

Infobox Police Department
name = Gaston County Sheriff's Office

headquarters = Gastonia, North Carolina
established =
sworn =
jurisdiction = Municipal
sheriff = Alan Cloninger
website = [http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/sheriff Official Site]

The Gaston County Sheriff's Office is a law enforcement agency in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The Gaston County Sheriff's Office is responsible for operating the county jail system, protecting the county courthouse, serving civil and criminal documents, evictions, seizure of property or money as ordered by the courts, and pursuing and arresting fugitives from legal actions taken through the courts. [ [http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/sheriff/index.htm Gaston County Sheriff's Office website] . Retrieved on 2008-07-31.]

The Sheriff's Office is not primarily responsible for general law enforcement in Gaston County. Law enforcement within the incorporated municipalities of Gaston County is generally the responsibility of the police department of the particular municipality. Responsibility for law enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county rests with the Gaston County Police Department.

Involvement in Illegal Immigration Enforcement

Since 2007, the Gaston County Sheriff's office has been involved with a controversial federal immigration enforcement program. In the "287(g) program," federally-trained deputies are authorized to check the immigration status of people who are arrested and taken to the Gaston County Jail. Gaston County is considered one of leading counties in North Carolina in the detention of illegal immigrants. Critics cite the fact that the primary charges filed against aliens in the Gaston County Jail are traffic violations. [ [http://www.thetimesnews.com/articles/people_15271___article.html/charges_alamance.html "Most immigration detainees brought in on minor traffic violations"] , Barry Smith, The Times-News (Burlington, NC), July 5, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.] From April 2007 through June 2008, 599 Gaston County inmates were interviewed about their immigration status and 488 processed for removal from the United States. Those 599 inmates were arrested, collectively, on 735 charges (698 misdemeanors and 37 felonies), including 422 traffic charges (99 for DWI). [ [http://www.gastongazette.com/common/printer/view.php?db=gaston&id=22365 "Traffic violations, not felonies or DWIs, leading catalyst for immigration enforcement (updated with Gaston County statistics)"] , Gaston Gazette, July 7, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.]

References

External links

* [http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/sheriff/index.htm Gaston County Sheriff's Office official website.]