SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones announced today that Chief Deputy James (Jim) Barnes will be the office’s new Undersheriff. 

This is Sheriff Jones’ fifth and final Undersheriff appointment; he will replace retiring Undersheriff Maness. In regards to his second-in-command, Sheriff Jones stated, “Undersheriff Barnes is someone I have relied upon for some time for his leadership and vision.  The Sheriff’s Office and the community will be well served with him in this position.”

The Undersheriff is largely responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office and functions as the Sheriff in his absence.  Undersheriff Jim Barnes replaces Undersheriff Erik Maness, who served as Undersheriff for 6 years and retired today after 32 years of service in the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

Undersheriff Barnes began his career in law enforcement in 1998 as a Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff.  He worked in corrections, patrol and investigations until promoting to sergeant in 2008.  In 2014 he was promoted to lieutenant where he worked as the Operations Commander for the Central Patrol Division.  Undersheriff Barnes was subsequently promoted to Captain in 2018 and Chief Deputy in 2021, taking on additional visionary and leadership roles with each promotion.

Undersheriff Barnes has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Sacramento and is current president of the Pig Bowl-Guns & Hoses Charity.  Undersheriff Barnes champions a philosophy that recognizes thriving harmonious communities are created and sustained when law enforcement works as a partner with community, businesses and faith-based leaders.