The main function in the civil department is to serve process, which includes non-enforceable papers such as summons, subpoenas and petitions for hearings. These would be papers to appear in court and/or respond to the court on a civil action. The office staff prepares the paperwork for the deputies to serve. The majority of our papers are non-enforceable. Currently these papers average 1700 a month.

There are some papers that require more than just a service. These papers are called enforceable. Enforceable papers would include; injunctions for protection, writs of possession for eviction, child custody, juvenile pick up orders, levies, replevins, expartes, and contempts and commitments for non payment of child support. These enforceable papers are signed by a judge and order and direct the sheriff to enforce them. These papers require the deputies to go out and enforce the judges decision, which may entail removing someone from a home an injunctions for protection, take a child from one parent and turn them over to the other parent, to take a child into custody because of a crime they have already committed, taking property in a levy from an individual or business to sell at public auction to satisfy a judgment, take an individual to Lifestreams Behavioral Center for observation and/or treatment for a mental health illness or problem of chemical abuse, and taking a custodial parent into custody for non payment of child support is also a major function of this office. Over 300 of these orders are enforced and executed a month.

With the increase in juvenile crimes and domestic violence over the past years, these orders in particular, are of great importance to the Sheriff's Office. Quick attention to this paperwork is the civil departments' number one priority.

Among these duties, the civil department is also responsible to the public, either in person at the Sheriff's Office or by telephone, to give the most current information and updates on service and to clearly explain our policies and procedures, as we follow the Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Statues. However, the department does not have attorneys and with that, we can not give legal advice.