Sheriff passes jail inspection

A new report shows the Hernando County Jail successfully passed its first Florida Model Jail Standards inspection since the sheriff's office took over operations in August 2010.

The inspection examined facility structures, housekeeping, sanitation, policies and procedures. A second inspection, by a certified medical professional inspector, examined inmate medical charts, medications dispensed, treatments rendered and protocols followed.

"Through diligence and hard work by a professional group of personnel, (we) were able to meet the necessary standards," Sheriff Al Nienhuis said in a memo to the county.

The inspection report is included on the agenda of Tuesday's county commission meeting.

County Commissioner John Druzbick said he is pleased at how the sheriff's office has handled jail operations since taking over.

At the time, then-sheriff Richard Nugent dropped a bombshell on the county when he announced the 23-year-old jail was in a terrible state of disrepair.

Commissioners soon after ended the contract with Corrections Corporation of America, the private company which had been running the jail.

"We have saved a tremendous amount of money with the sheriff coming in and running the jail," Druzbick said. "The cost is substantially lower than with CCA."

The first year alone, the sheriff's office saved taxpayers some $1 million, Druzbick said.

Druzbick cited the sheriff's office's positive track record of conducting business and maintaining the building.

"I think it has been a positive for Hernando County so far," he said.