Breckinridge County KyArchives History .....Law And Order 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Dana Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00005.html#0001067 September 23, 2006, 2:27 pm

Book Title: A Glimpse Of The Past

Obedience to law and order was very important to early settlers.  When laws 
were broken, persons accused were summoned before the court to prove their 
innocence or to be prosecuted regardless of political and financial standing.  
The judge and jury recognized their responsibilities.  Very few times did 
money, threats or relationship influence their proper functioning.  When the 
accused appeared before these courts, they were aware of their position.  They 
either had to prove their innocence or be convicted.  No tears, hard luck 
stories or promises would change court decisions.  The Fifth Amendment, unknown 
then, was never used to hinder evidence, so the witness either told the truth 
or lied, which ever he though best fitted the occasion.

There were few murder and divorce cases as compared with today, as the public 
believed in God's commandment: "Thou shalt not kill", and the married believed 
their wedding vows.  "I take thee for better or for worse."  If it were for 
worse, they shouldered the blame without the courts to get them off the hook.  
Juvenile delinquency was practically unknown, because parents depended on their 
children's help and cooperation in maintaining the home.  If children strayed 
away from the teachings of home and became involved in questionable behaviour, 
a switch or paddle in the hand of a parent meted out a sentence and punishment 
with a greater value than could have been done in a courtroom.

People living during the 19th century were usually more dependable than they 
are today.  Their word was their bond and they tried to keep it so.  They 
borrowed from banks and individuals on their honor, and very few failed to meet 
their obligations.  Merchants, banks and other business places, cashed personal 
checks without identification and seldom, did one bounce.  This privilege has 
now become abused to such an extent that a stranger with a quarter million 
dollar bank account today could not get a two dollar check cashed without 
proper identification.

Sheriffs appeared in Virginia with the establishment of shires or counties in 
1634.  Prior to that time, the role of sheriffs were not only law enforcement 
officers and court executive officers, but also finance officers and election 
supervisors.  As law enforcement officials, besides generally, maintaining the 
peace, they pursued fugitives, arrested offenders, cared for prisoners and 
executed orders and sentences of the courts, the assembly, and the King.

Sometimes the sheriffs duties involved the listing of the taxable property or 
people, but more often it took the form of collecting and distributing the 
taxes or other fees and assessments.

An important activity of the sheriff in colonial Virginia was the management of 
elections.  The elections were usually held in the county courthouse.

Only a few years ago the small town police officer performed the duties 
required of him with very little formal police training if any.  The pay was 
low and the hours long.  More often than not the individual police officer 
regarded his police function as merely a job.

Fortunately, here in Kentucky, the lag in updating small police departments has 
been taken up by changes in the State's Penal Code.  The state requires that 
the police officer under go formal training, the setting of higher educational 
standards and the life.  The average police officer of a few years ago could 
scarely qualify to perform police duties now.  The modern officer, even in the 
small community, must meet a number of stringent requirements and go at the 
business of police work in a professional way.  He can no longer regard police 
work as just a job.







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