Sheriff’s Office announces changes in response to COVID-19
March 16, 2020
Press release from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
Following the State of Emergency issued in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Florida and the United States, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has suspended several functions to support the statewide initiative of “Physical Distancing”. Beginning tomorrow morning (March 17, 2020). the following changes are being implemented.
Department of Operations:
- Training Division: All agency in-service training has been canceled.
- Civil Bureau: As of today, there will be no suspension of any services provided. Civil processes will continue as normal, until an order is issued by Court Administrators or the Chief Judge.
- Warrants Bureau: As of today, there will be no suspension of any services provided.
- Court Security: The courthouse is still open but is limiting events. We have been notified that all jury selection, jury trials, and grand jury proceedings are suspended. All county and circuit criminal events are suspended with the exception of first appearance, bond reduction, Change of Plea, and urgent motions. All hearings shall be conducted by electronic means or be continued, with the exception of juvenile detention hearings, Domestic Violence Injunction hearings. These changes will continue through March 27, 2020 at 5:00 pm.
- Patrol Operations: There will be no interruption of services to the public. Deputies and field service technicians have been provided guidelines for citizen contact. All citizen Ride-Along programs have been suspended.
- Patrol Support: Members of the Juvenile Relations Bureau (school resource deputies) have been reallocated to areas within the agency or are using personal leave. Youth and Community Resource Units (YCRU) has suspended all community events. Teen Court has suspended all events; however, intake will still occur and phone contact with parents and youth will still occur.
Department of Support Services:
Criminal Investigations Division: There will be no interruption of services to the public.