WHEN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURE INCREASED PER DIEM WAGES AND AUTO MILEAGE FOR DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSIGNED TO COURT DUTY, IT WAS FOUND THAT TWO CHESHIRE COUNTY DEPUTIES WOULD BE PAID MORE THAN THE SHERIFF. A SPECIAL COMMISSION SUBSEQUENTLY EVALUATED THE DEPARTMENT AND RECOMMENDED THAT DEPUTIES BE GIVEN SALARIES RATHER THAN PER DIEM WAGES. THE CHESHIRE COUNTY SHERIFF IS ELECTED EVERY 2 YEARS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING COUNTY CRIMES, TRANSPORTING AND DETAINING PRISONERS, INVESTIGATING SUDDEN DEATHS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. FOUR FULL-TIME AND SEVERAL PART-TIME DEPUTIES ARE APPOINTED BY THE SHERIFF TO PERFORM A VARIETY OF DUTIES. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY OCCUPIES ONE ROOM IN THE CHESHIRE COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUT LACKS SPACE FOR PRIVATE WORK AND CONFERENCES. IT HAS TWO POLICE CARS, A VAN, AND RADIO EQUIPMENT. DEPUTIES MUST SUPPLY THEIR OWN FIREARMS. A LIST IS SUPPLIED OF OFFICIAL SHERIFF DEPARTMENT RECORDS. INFORMATION ON WORK SCHEDULES, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REVEALS THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SPENDS ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ITS TIME ON SUPERIOR COURT BAILIFF DUTY. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ARE INADEQUATE, AND INSERVICE TRAINING HAS RECENTLY BEEN DECREASING. MANAGEMENT TASKS SUCH AS GOALSETTING AND ORGANIZING WORK ARE DONE INFORMALLY AND WITHOUT WRITTEN STATEMENTS. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT'S RECORDKEEPING CONCERNING POLICIES, PERSONNEL, AND EQUIPMENT, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION POLICIES, ARE INADEQUATE. FURTHER, THE DEPARTMENT'S TASKS AND SERVICES ARE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED EVEN THOUGH ITS RESPONSIBILITIES OFTEN FAR EXCEED ITS RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, NEW SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INADEQUATE FOR DEPUTIES, AND CHESHIRE COUNTY SHOULD PROVIDE 24-HOUR EMERGENCY POLICE SERVICE. TABLES AND AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES PRESENT THE SHERIFF'S ANNUAL REPORT (1974 AND 1975), SAMPLE FORMS, AND STATE RULES FOR BAILIFFS.