The Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the County by State Statute. His responsibilities includes law enforcement, administration of the Jail, which includes being Superintendent of the Work House, and security of the Courts. Law enforcement covers a large scale of duties, including: prevention and investigation of crimes on persons and property, service of civil and criminal warrants, and patrolling of county and state roadways. Responsibilities of the Jail also covers a broad area of duties, which include: housing of misdemeanor and felony prisoners, and supervision of the Work House and inmate garden.

The Sheriff's Department has 150 sworn officers and patrols approximately 583 square miles, with a estimated population of 95,000 citizens, and does not included the thousands of persons who travel through Wilson County on a daily basis for work, shopping, and recreation. The Wilson County Sheriffs Department and Jail is located in the Wilson County Criminal Justice Complex.