Yulee, Fla. – On January 8, 2015, the Nassau County Detention Center again successfully passed its annual Florida Model Jail Standards Inspection, drawing high praise from inspectors from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) are the statutorily mandated minimum standards that jails across Florida must meet to ensure the constitutional rights of those incarcerated are upheld.
Prior to 1996, the Florida Department of Corrections was responsible for the standards and inspection process for Local County jails through the Office of the Inspector General. Legislation was passed in 1996 that gave the authority of inspections to the local level. This change required the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Association of Counties to appoint individuals to serve on a Committee that would govern standards that local jails must comply with.
This annual inspection ensures that the Nassau County Detention Center and Sheriff’s Office staff meet or exceed the minimum performance standards to operate a constitutional jail in the state of Florida.
The Inspection Team, led by outside law enforcement agencies, scrutinized both the conditions and policies of the Detention Center, continually praising the operation during the day, and found all to be well above minimum standards. Twenty different areas are inspected to include housing, kitchen, programs and sanitation. Inmate disciplinary actions and reports are also examined. Both inmates and staff were interviewed at length for an independent view of daily operations.
The Florida Model Jail Standards inspection report came back with no serious or notable violations. “Having no notable issues is a testament to our staff running a constitutional jail”, said Sheriff Bill Leeper. “Our staff takes great pride in their jobs. Supervisors and line staff alike, ensure policy is followed and ensure the cleanliness of the facility is maintained at an inspection ready level every day. Passing this inspection is a total team effort,” Leeper added.
