Undersheriff 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 former prosecutor for the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) and is currently a Douglas County Circuit Court Judge.

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 is also a participant in the Ford Institute Leadership Program and he 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 a past board member for United Way of Douglas County and a past board member of Court Appointed Special Advocacy (CASA) of Douglas County.  He is presently a member of the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Team and a board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Umpqua Valley.

He is the father of two boys who have or are serving in the military.  Justin is a Petty Officer Second Class in the United States Navy assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where he is receiving training as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) technician.  Joel is a former Marine and Iraqi Freedom combat veteran who now resides in Roseburg.