The sheriff of each county shall, subject to the budget of the county, appoint such persons as may be necessary, to the position of sheriff’s officer, pursuant to the provisions of Title 11 of the Revised Statutes, where applicable, to perform the duties involved in attending the courts heretofore performed by court attendants, or in serving court processes, or in the investigation and apprehension of violators of the law, or in criminal identification, or in ballistics, or in any related work which the sheriff shall, from time to time prescribe and as shall be determined to be appropriate by the Civil Service Commission. Except as provided herein, no such officer shall be assigned to any penal institution, jail, penitentiary, county correction center or workhouse for the purpose of guarding, having custody of, or being charged with the rehabilitation of any inmate housed therein, except upon emergency conditions. Any sheriff’s officer who, on the effective date of this act, is assigned to any penal institution, jail, penitentiary, county correction center, or workhouse for the purpose of guarding, having custody of, or being charged with the rehabilitation of any inmate housed therein, may continue to serve in such capacity until such officer is reassigned or terminated, at which time the position shall be filled with an individual in a title appropriate to the duties to be performed.

L.1982, c. 133, s. 1, eff. Sept. 14, 1982. Amended by L.1984, c. 35, s. 3, eff. April 19, 1984.