Field Operations

The duties of the Field Operations Personnel on a daily basis include the service of civil process, such as Summons, Summons and Complaints, Notice of Hearings, Summons in Summary Ejectments, Writs of Possession (real and personal property), Executions, Claim and Delivery, Order of Attachments, and Subpoenas. Field Operations is also responsible for the service of criminal processes, such as Warrants, Orders for Arrest and Criminal Summons.

One deputy on each shift is assigned as a domestic violence deputy to serve all domestic violence orders, arrest warrants and to assist in any other domestic violence processes.

Glossary of frequently used terms

Bank Escorts

Escort personnel to deposit county or state funds collected by Sheriff`s employees, Tax office, Clerk of Courts, etc.

Civil Summons

A complaint filed by an individual or company against another individual or company where a judgment is sought for more than $3,000.00. No court date is set until the defendant makes a response and opposes the complaint. This case will be heard in superior court if it goes to trial.

Child Support

Child support paperwork such as Order to Show Cause, Notice of Hearing for Foreign Support, etc.

Civil Order for Arrest

A civil order for arrest is usually for failure to appear in a child support hearing or failure to pay child support.

Criminal Orders for Arrest

Orders issued by the courts to arrest in a criminal case usually for Fail to Appear, Fail to Comply, etc.

Criminal Summons

Criminal paperwork issued by the courts or magistrate in a criminal case to notify a defendant of criminal charges and usually a court date to appear in reference to the charges.

Criminal Warrant

Criminal paperwork issued by the criminal courts or magistrate for a criminal offense, such as Shoplifting, Fraud, Sex Offenses, Murder, etc.

Domestic Violence

Intentionally causing or attempting to cause bodily injury or placing another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury through the threatened use of force.

Domestic Violence Order and Notice of Hearing (ex parte)

An order issued by a district court judge or a designated magistrate ordering that the defendant follow the provisions listed on the order. A hearing date is set for the defendant to appear and testify against the complaint and motion of the plaintiff. It is a misdemeanor to violate any of the provisions of the order. The Sheriff will serve and carry out the judge’s orders. All NC Law Enforcement Officers must enforce the order. This order is effective for ten days or until the court hearing.

Domestic Violence Protective Order (one year order)

An order issued by a district court judge at a Domestic Violence hearing effective for one year. Most one year orders are orders that both parties have consented to and ask the court to enforce. The Sheriff will serve a copy and carry out the judge’s orders. All NC Law Enforcement Officers must enforce the order. The order is effective for one year from the date issued. The plaintiff must file a motion to continue the order each year.

DV Subpoena

Subpoena issued by the courts or an attorney in some cases giving a court date, time to appear and the court room location, for the purpose of informing the witness of the case, examples of the charges are: Assault on Female, Harassing Telephone Calls, Violation of the Domestic Violence Order, etc.

DV Child Custody

Domestic orders that order the Sheriff to assist the plaintiff in taking custody of the children involved in the domestic case.

DV Evictions

Orders the Sheriff to remove the defendant from the residence and to assist the plaintiff in returning to the residence.

DV Misc. Pick up

Assist the plaintiff or defendant in recovering miscellaneous property, such as car keys, automobile, jewelry, etc.

DV Personal Property Pick up

Assist the plaintiff or defendant to return to the residence to obtain their personal belongings, toiletries, tools of trade,etc. This order requires 2 Deputies for safety purposes.

DV Weapons Pick up

Court order to surrender from the defendant any firearms, ammunitions or gun permits.

Funeral Escorts

Assist the public by escorting funeral processions in marked patrol vehicles safely throughout the county.

Mental Patient Transports

Assist the public by serving mental commitments. This involves taking subjects into custody to transport them to a local mental health facility for evaluation and, if committed, transporting them to facilities throughout the state.

Prisoner Transports

Assist the Jail Operations with the transport of inmates to the Hospital, State prisons, and other County Jail facilities throughout the state.

Special Checks

Special checks of county properties while on duty and citizen’s request.

Special Orders

Civil paperwork that requires immediate attention, such as Child Pick up Order, Injunction or Restraining Orders, or requires the assistance of a supervisor such as Claim and Delivery, Attachment, etc.

Subpoenas

A process commanding a witness to appear in court, give testimony and bring specific documents, if requested.

Writ of Possession

Civil paperwork to recover personal property or real property.

Gaston County

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