The position of Sheriff has a long tradition of being an elected and political position in the United States and Montana. The Sheriff is elected by the People so that the People have a say and the Sheriff is accountable in their community. Because of this, the requirements to be Sheriff have almost always been minimal to allow for the person the People believe to best represent their beliefs to be elected. In Montana, these qualifications are found in Montana Annotated Code § 7-32-2133 and are:
- At least 18 years of age at the time of election or appointment
- Must be a United States citizen
- High school graduate or issued a high school equivalency diploma
- Possess or be eligible to possess a valid Montana driver’s license
- No convictions for a crime that could result in imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary
- Must be eligible to receive and disseminate criminal justice data through the Criminal Justice Information Network (CJIN)
- Must meet general county office eligibility requirements