Sheriff Jim Burge, Jr. was raised in Winston, Oregon, and graduated from Douglas High School. Jim is the oldest of four children. Jim's family is immersed in the law enforcement profession. His father, Jim Burge, Sr., was a Winston City Police Officer, who transferred to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in 1975. Jim Sr. rose to the rank of Patrol Lieutenant before retiring. Jim Sr. died of cancer in 2001. His mother, Shirley, was a dispatcher for the Winston Police Department during the early '70s. Both of his younger brothers, Dennis and Gary, worked for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for a brief time. Dennis is now a decorated police officer for the Grants Pass Police Department. Deputy Gary Burge died of a bicycle accident injury in 1996, two weeks after being hired by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Jim's sister, Diana, is married to Florence Police Department Sergeant John Pitcher. Jim's wife, Frances, is a prosecutor in the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.

Jim began his law enforcement career in 1983, as a Deputy Sheriff in Laramie County, Wyoming. Prior to that, he served four years in the United States Air Force as a Security Specialist at FE Warren AFB.  In December 1986, he was hired by the Roseburg Police Department and served as a patrol officer, detective, and patrol corporal.  He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1999. He also served as a Crime Prevention Officer, Neighborhood Watch and Block Coordinator, Emergency Response Team (ERT) member, leader, and Tactical Operations Commander. Sheriff Chris Brown appointed Jim to the position of Undersheriff in June 2003.  Jim was appointed Sheriff (effective January 1, 2008), to serve the remainder of Sheriff Chris Brown's term ending December 31, 2008.

Jim has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Managerial Leadership and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management.  Jim is a graduate of the Oregon Executive Development Institute and a graduate of the 202nd session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.  Jim has innumerable hours of professional training in various subjects. He has acquired his Executive and Management levels of certification from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

Jim has been dedicated to community service in Douglas County most of his life. He is currently a board member for United Way of Douglas County and a past board member of Court Appointed Special Advocacy (CASA) of Douglas County. He is the father of two boys who are proudly serving in the military.  Justin is a Petty Officer Second Class in the United States Navy and is transitioning to Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan and Joel is a M1A1 tank driver in the Marine Corps who recently returned from his second tour in Iraq. He is stationed at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base, CA.