Constable

:For the painter see John Constable. For the city in New York, see Constable, New York.

United States

In the United States, there is no consistent use of the office of constable across the states, and use may vary even within a state. A constable can be merely an official responsible for service of process: such as summonses and subpoenas for people to appear in court in criminal and/or civil matters. Or, they may be fully empowered law enforcement officers. They may also have additional specialized duties unique to the office. In some states, a constable may be appointed by the judge of the Court in which he or she serves; in others the constable is an elected or appointed position at the village, precinct or township level of local government.

Related Topics:
United States - Service of process - Summons - Subpoena - Law enforcement - Precinct - Township

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Historically, the office was the same as was in the United Kingdom and has been in existence since the colonial period. However, with the development of modern police forces in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the common law powers of constable have often been altered or removed by statute. Whereas, in the UK, constables were transformed by law into police services, in the US, state and local police services were created in addition to constables. Perhaps because of this, the title "constable" is not used for police of any rank. The lowest rank in a police oganization would be officer, patrolman, trooper, and historically, private, depending on the particular organization.

Related Topics:
Common law - Trooper - Private

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A constable may be assisted by deputy constables as sworn officers or constable's officers as civil staff, usually as process servers.

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A village or town constable may be called a marshal.

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Arizona

Alabama

Delaware

Maine

Constables have all of the powers and duties of police officers once they have completed training required by the state.

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Massachusetts

New Jersey

New Hampshire

New York

Pennsylvania

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the office of the constable is mandated in the state constitution. All constables in Pennsylvania are elected Officers of the Court, as are all state court officers in the state system.

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Tennessee

Texas

Texas constables are elected officials, similar to a sheriff, who are responsible for providing services for their precinct justice of the peace, but also for his county, and the state district courts. They have full law enforcement authority throughout their respective counties.

Related Topics:
Sheriff - Precinct - Justice of the peace

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Vermont

Constables are generally elected by the town. They are charged with service of process; the destruction of unlicensed or dangerous dogs or wolf-hybrids, and of injured deer; removal of disorderly people from town meeting; collection of taxes, when no tax collector is elected; and other duties. Constables have full law enforcement authority unless the town votes to either remove the authority or require training before such authority is exercised. Cities and villages may also have constables. Their duties and method of selection are governed by the corporation's charter.

Related Topics:
Town meeting - Corporation

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