B.J. Roberts for Hampton Sheriff

HAMPTON, Va. - B. J. Roberts was first elected sheriff for the city of Hampton in 1992. During the past 16 years as Sheriff, he has upgraded and expanded the city's correctional facility in addition to increasing the number of deputies to ensure public safety. He continues to uphold the mission of the office by being committed to excellence. Sheriff Roberts oversees over 189 sworn and civilian personnel, as well as maintains the Hampton Jail which confines over 300 offenders.

Under his guidance, the Hampton Sheriff's Office received the prestigious "Triple Crown Award" this past June for achieving simultaneous accreditation from three national agencies. The Hampton Sheriff's Office is only the 32nd law enforcement agency to ever receive the award in the United States and only the second in Virginia.

Throughout his tenure, Sheriff Roberts has held major roles in national associations, including past president of the Virginia Sherriff's Association, the Virginia Campus Police Association and the past chairman of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority.

The Sheriff is currently 1st Vice President of the National Sheriff's Association and will assume the position of President in June 2010.

He also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Sheriff Roberts is involved and committed to the local community, where he is a member of the Wythe Exchange Club of America, the Salvation Army (Peninsula Command) and the Kenneth Wallace Neighborhood Resource Center.

Sheriff Roberts was educated in the Hampton School system and received his B.S. from Hampton University. He has received numerous honors and awards.