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The National Sheriffs' Institute is the only executive leadership program designed specifically for sheriffs. It is sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections in partnership with the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association.
The program was developed in the early 1970s to address the evolving needs of sheriffs, originally through a partnership between the National Sheriffs' Association and the University of Southern California's School of Public Administration. Since 1993 it has been administered by the NIC Jails Division, with the curriculum refined and streamlined over time.
The courses
NSI Leadership Development, 4 days. Designed for first-term sheriffs. Participants assess their leadership strengths and build a personalized development plan, working through stakeholder engagement, emotional intelligence, and organizational change. This course is required before attending either of the other two.
NSI Jail Leadership, 4 days. The sheriff and the jail administrator attend together, with an emphasis on joint learning, unified vision setting, and collaborative strategic planning for facility management.
NSI Communicating for Impact, 4 days. Launched in 2025. Covers communication strategy, including press conference simulation and navigating the media. Completion of Leadership Development is a prerequisite.
How to apply
Upcoming course dates are listed below. Select a course to enroll, or complete the NSI Interest Form on the NIC website to be notified when new dates are scheduled.
