Pasco County is continuing to make strides toward the planned transfer of county jail operations.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has been in charge of the jail, but plans call for switching it over to county administration in fiscal year 2022-2023.
Toward that end, the Pasco County Commission has appointed Stacey Jenkins as chief correctional officer.
It also has provided notice to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) regarding its intent to assume operation and control of the Pasco County Jail.
The county board took those actions at its July 12 meeting, as part of the board’s consent agenda. That means the board voted on those agenda items as part of a packet of actions, without discussion, as part of a single vote.
The board notified the FDLE in a transmittal letter signed by Board Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.
Background on the issue was detailed in the county board’s July 12 agenda packet.
According to that information, the board certified to the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 4, 1998 that the sheriff was the county’s chief correction officer, with full administrative control and responsibility for the county jail.
On April 6 of this year, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco notified the board that he intended to transition the management of the jail to the county.
There have been discussions of an Oct. 1 transfer date, but the county and sheriff must approve the transition in an interlocal agreement.
In another action related to the jail, the board authorized the issuance of not-to-exceed $41 million in bonds to finance the expansion of the county jail and to pay the transactional costs.
Published August 03, 2022
