A Look Inside the Brevard County Jail

By  //  April 23, 2014

SHERIFF'S MESSAGE

(ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Sheriffs Association) Brevard County corrections deputies, employees and volunteers serve our community every day in one of the toughest and most dangerous assignments in the law enforcement profession.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Each month I have the opportunity to write an article that informs our citizens about a component of our agency and the various measures that are designed to keep our communities safe.

The Jail is an integral part of our agency that not only houses a daily average inmate population of 1350, but is also the primary working assignment for almost a third of our Sheriff’s Office employees. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

In this article, I would like to share the many different elements of the Brevard County Jail Complex. The Jail is an integral part of our agency that not only houses a daily average inmate population of 1350, but is also the primary working assignment for almost a third of our Sheriff’s Office employees.

Much like a naval aircraft carrier, the jail is a city unto itself. Inside our Jail is every component needed to provide a safe working environment for our employees and the inmates as well.

OPERATED BY ALMOST 500 WORKERS

The facility maintains fully functional units such as Medical, Mental Health, Pharmacy, Kitchen, Records, Law Library, Inmate Booking and Release, Transportation, Chaplain and many other functions that are vital to the operation of the facility.

The facility maintains fully functional units such as Medical, Mental Health, Pharmacy, Kitchen, Records, Law Library, Inmate Booking and Release, Transportation, Chaplain and many other functions that are vital to the operation of the facility. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Operated by almost 500 employees and volunteers, each work to maintain the security of the facility and provide a safe and healthy environment for the inmates. These employees and volunteers serve our community every day in one of the toughest and most dangerous assignments in the law enforcement profession.

They not only serve as Corrections Deputies, but also serve as members of our Corrections Response Team, K-9 Handlers, Civilian Employees, and Program Coordinators.

The Brevard County Jail is also home to various rehabilitative and reintegration programs that are designed to aid in the re-entry to the community. These programs are primarily facilitated through our volunteers and faith based organizations.

PAWS AND STRIPES

One of our most iconic programs is “Paws and Stripes” that works in partnership with our local animal rescue shelters to provide a safe haven for rescue dogs while also helping to develop the inmates in areas such as responsibility and nurturing.

One of our most iconic programs is “Paws and Stripes” that works in partnership with our local animal rescue shelters to provide a safe haven for rescue dogs while also helping to develop the inmates in areas such as responsibility and nurturing. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The program has received national attention and has currently graduated over 220 rescue dogs that have received obedience training.

After graduating from the training, the dogs are returned to the shelter where they are immediately adopted by members of our community. In fact we have a 100% adoption rate and at most times have a waiting list for future graduates of the class.

MAXIMIZING INMATE LABOR FORCE

In addition to the above programs we use inmate labor to offset the tremendous cost associated with the incarceration of inmates. Currently, almost ten million dollars a year is expended to feed and provide medical care for inmates within the facility.

Currently, almost $10 million a year is expended to feed and provide medical care for inmates within the facility. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Even with costs at .58 cents per meal, there is still a tremendous burden on our taxpayers. In an effort to offset cost and taxpayer dollars, we utilize inmate labor to sew inmate uniforms and bed linens, complete construction projects and provide county facility landscaping. They are further utilized for meal and laundry services to limit cost in every possible way.

In fact we are currently redesigning our structure of inmate labor to increase productivity at the Work Farm and throughout the county. By re-engineering how we use inmate labor, we hope to eventually grow the needed vegetables for inmate meals, further lessoning the expense and financial impact.

In fact we are currently redesigning our structure of inmate labor to increase productivity at the Work Farm and throughout the county. By re-engineering how we use inmate labor, we hope to eventually grow the needed vegetables for inmate meals, further lessoning the expense and financial impact.

We are also planning to use other inmate service opportunities that will save the county money for various maintenance projects. Not only do these measures save money, but they also serve to provide the inmates with trade training and experience in preparation for release.

I could not be more proud of our Corrections Team and their commitment to our community.

Their professionalism and innovative ideas continue to keep the Brevard County Jail Complex one of the safest and most secure facilities in the country, while operating as one of the most program-effective and financially efficient in the state.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft. That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today. The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.

Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.

Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.

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