Presents data collected from a representative sample of sheriffs' offices nationwide on a variety of agency characteristics based on the 2003 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) survey. National estimates for sheriffs' offices are provided for such issues as staff and financial resources, technologies and equipment in use, and agency policies and practices covering a wide array of law enforcement and administrative concerns.

• In 2003 starting salaries for entry-level deputies ranged from an average of about $23,300 in the smallest jurisdictions to about $38,800 in the largest.
• From 1990 to 2003 the percentage of sheriffs' offices using infield computers increased from 6% to 55%.
• Ten percent of sheriffs' offices employing 31% of all officers, maintained or created a written community policing plan during the 12-moth period ending June 30, 2003.