The role of the correctional system is to ensure that an offender's sentence is carried out, whether it is time in jail, parole, probation, or completing community service. The goal of Columbia County Corrections is to fulfill that role while also working to reduce recidivism within the inmate community.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office operates a jail for local offenders with sentences that are handed down from any one of the following courts:
 

• Columbia County Circuit Court
• Columbia County Justice Court
• St. Helens Municipal Court
• Scappoose Municipal Court
   

The County Jail typically houses inmates with misdemeanor sentences that are less than a year, as well as detainees awaiting trial or sentencing. Inmates with longer sentences or more violent, felony convictions, will typically be held only temporarily pending transfer to a state prison.

The Enforcement Division encompasses 8 distinct service units with a total staff of 15 Deputies, 1 Detective, and 1 K-9. Enforcement's Patrol unit traverses the County's network of over 550 miles of roads, responding to calls outside city limits, and assisting the various city police agencies as requested. The Marine unit is responsible for patrolling the 62 miles of Columbia River waterway that form the northern and eastern boundaries of the county. 

In addition to patrol units, the Enforcement Division oversees Criminal Investigations, a Reserve officer program, the county's largely volunteer Search & Rescue, and Animal Control.

The Support Services Division provides administrative support to a number of divisions at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, which include the following:

• Concealed Handgun Licensing
• Dog Licensing
• Civil Records Processing
• Fingerprinting
• Public Records Requests
• Sheriff's Property Sales
• Sex Offender Registration