Can you meet the challenge of becoming a Richmond Deputy Sheriff?

The policy of the Richmond Sheriff's Office is to provide the citizens of the City of Richmond with the most qualified appointees possible and to strictly adhere to the requirements and provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as other applicable laws in its employment practices.

Minimum Requirements:

Richmond Sheriff's Office Policy and Section 15.2-1705 of the Code of Virginia provides the minimum requirements:

1. Be a citizen of the United States
2. Be required to undergo a background investigation including fingerprint based criminal history record inquiries to both the Central Records Exchange and the Federal Bureau of Investigations

3. Have a high school diploma, or GED with higher education or extensive job related experience/military service

4. Possess a valid drivers license

5. Undergo a physical examination, subsequent to a conditional offer of appointment, conducted under the supervision of a licensed physician

6. Be at least 21 years of age

7. Have not been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony or an offense that would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, or serious misdemeanor offences.

8. Not have produced a positive result on a pre-appointment drug screening where a positive result cannot be explained to the law enforcement agency or jail administrator's satisfaction.

Appointment Process:

An individual seeking a professional career with the Richmond Sheriff's Office may be subjected to physical and mental stress commonly encountered in the law enforcement and corrections field. Each candidate must be thoroughly evaluated to determine if his or her abilities are compatible with the duties and responsibilities of a deputy sheriff.

To initiate this process with the Richmond Sheriff's Office, you must first fill out one of our application packets. Upon receipt of the application our office will review your information to determine if you meet the established minimum requirements. Once this has been determined, a detailed background check is conducted. This includes inquiries of your criminal history, financial history, employment background, standing in the community, level of character, as well as verification of all information you supplied in your application packet.

This background investigation normally takes four weeks to complete. Once your background investigation is completed, you may be eligible for a formal interview.

These interviews are conducted as needed to fill current vacancies. Your selection for an interview is based on a comparison of your qualifications with other applicants being considered.

If you are selected for further consideration after the interview, you will be scheduled for a polygraph examination. The polygraph examination is used to validate any information you have provided to the Richmond Sheriff's Office to this point in the recruitment process. The polygraph is the final step of the process.

Once you have successfully completed the polygraph, your completed file is submitted to the Sheriff or his or her designee for their review and final selection. The Recruitment Department will contact you with the results of the Sheriff's review. If you are selected for appointment, you will be scheduled to undergo a physical examination as required by Sheriff's Policy and the City of Richmond. Once you have been cleared for duty by the physician, you will be scheduled to attend an orientation final processing appointment which will allow you to complete the necessary paperwork and ask any questions you may have.

The appointment process is demanding, but successful completion opens the door for you to work in a rapidly advancing career. This career offers numerous benefits and personal rewards; only available with one of the largest Sheriff's Offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia.