Alachua County is one step closer to launching a six figure study of the jail. Commissioners voted today to negotiate with the top ranked analysis firm: Pulitzer, Bogard and Associates.
The goal of the study is to determine: appropriate staffing levels, performance objectives, and the pros and cons of the county taking control, versus continuing to have the Sheriff operate the jail.
County Manager Randall Reid said, "This firm was used a number of years ago in a prior jail study, so they are familiar with the jail although the jail has been expanded since then and is also under the operation of a different sheriff, so some things have changed."
In 2005 the county paid Pulitzer, Bogard and Associates $150 thousand dollars to study the culture of the jail. The price of the new study is still unknown, although it has been estimated more than a hundred thousand.
It should be complete by the first of the year.