What happens if a sheriff department ignores a writ from a judge?
<p>If a judge issues a writ to a sheriff department to arrest or evict someone and the sheriff department refuses to take action, what happens? Is it criminal for them to intentionally ignore a writ?</p>

<p>One option is contempt proceedings, which may be initiated in <a href="https://voiceofoc.org/tag/federal-investigation/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this case</a> of the Orange County CA sheriff. This can result in imprisonment, unless it is a federal matter and the President of the US pardons the sheriff. It would depend on the state's laws, but for example Montana's law, <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/45/7/45-7-309.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MCA 45-7-309</a> includes "purposely disobeying or refusing any lawful process or other mandate of a court", and <a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2014/title-12/section-12-861/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Arizona</a> has similar laws. In Nevada, which likewise has an analogous <a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/nevada/2010/title15/chapter199/nrs199-340.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">law against criminal contempt</a>, also in <a href="https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-248.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NRS 248.130</a> requires the sheriff to execute the order or writ with due diligence, and if they do not, they are liable for all resulting damages. <a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/california/2011/pen/part-1/142-181/142/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">CA Penal Sec. 142</a> makes it a felony if</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Any peace officer who has the authority to receive or arrest a person
  charged with a criminal offense and willfully refuses to receive or
  arrest that person</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So the exact results depend on jurisdiction.</p>

police judge court-order