It provides protection and law enforcement to the non-municipal areas of Monterey County.

The Sheriff's Office is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the state of California.

[citation needed] In 2014, a federal judge issued an injunction against Sheriff Scott Miller barring him from campaigning in uniform.

[1] In October 2022, the League of United Latin American Citizens stated that four victims had asked for support with sexual harassment complains against the office, and called for an oversight board.

[2] Also in October, two senior officers were terminated, one for unearned overtime, and one for receiving stolen prescription drugs.