Orange County Jail Receives High Marks from Recent Inspection
An Inspection Team spent October 24, 2019 analyzing Orange County Corrections for the annual Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) audit. The team was comprised of 16 jail leaders from across the state. Inspectors spent all day visiting and checking on virtually every area of the jail.
The Orange County Corrections Department had hundreds of standards they were assessed on including processing inmates, inmate medical care and grievances, facility cleanliness and maintenance, staff training, departmental documentation and more.
At the closing, inspectors outlined a very positive review. Chief Michael Allen from Polk County said he always looks to Orange County for ideas and best practices.
Lieutenant Tammy Ambrus from Manatee County said she enjoyed the visit very much, “To say I was impressed would be an understatement.”
Osceola County Corrections Officer Terrial Burger inspected documentation. “I looked at 216 files and everything was impeccable, spot on,” she said.
Lieutenant David Veytia from Polk County visited the Work Release Center. “The facility and the staff members were great,” he said. “We don’t have such an operation in Polk County.”
Volusia Lieutenant Jeremy Faircloth noted that the disciplinary housing was quiet and clean, which he said is no easy feat. “Excellent and knowledgeable staff make this happen,” he added.
These were among the many accolades expressed by all 16 inspectors in the closing. “We truly are BestJail.com and I am so proud of our efforts,” said Orange County Corrections Chief Louis A. Quiñones, Jr.
The Florida Model Jail Standards are minimum standards which 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. 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 compliance of local jail standards.
Photo caption: Jail leaders from across Florida convened to assess the Orange County Corrections Department.