CDBG

CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION:

Housing discrimination (not mortgage foreclosure or rental evictions) in Lafayette County: Chairman, Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners, phone 294-1600.

Employment discrimination by the Board of County Commissioners or Clerk of Court: Ricky Lyons, Clerk of Court, phone 294-1600, e-mail

Accessibility of County facilities: Robert Johnson, Building Official, phone 294-3611, e-mail


Welcome to the Lafayette County Website. This site is intended for the convenience of our residents and visitors and we hope you’ll find a wealth of information on the wide range of County services, programs and activities that make this a great place to live, work and play.

Thank you for visiting!



Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Have you ever wondered how you would handle an emergency, natural or man made, if it were to happen to you? Do you know emergency first aid? How to properly use a fire extinguisher? The Lafayette County Emergency Management Office wishes to form a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Emergency Management; (386) 294-1950. Tim Smoak; (386) 208-8900, or Eric Black; (813) 600-9598 can be contacted for information. We are looking forward to establishing our county CERT program. HAM radio will be taught to our members by Mr. Black so if you're interested, please give us a call.

Lafayette County, Florida

Lafayette County exists in the northern section of Florida State and has an average population of 8,5000 people. It is also among the most populous regions in Florida. A recent report also showed that the county has a labor force of 2,781 individuals and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. The town started in late 1856, and its founders derived the county from a portion of Madison County. Additionally, its name comes from the famous Marquis de Lafayette. 
He was a French military leader who put up resistance during the fight with the Continental Army. The leader was famous for his role in strategic planning during the American Revolutionary War. Lafayette County is also home to the Suwannee River, which exists in the eastern section. The first county court also started in Ariel Jones. 
The county also exists in the Florida 3rd Circuit Court. The official judicial representative for the residents of Lafayette County in the Circuit Court and County Court. Both entities work per the regulations of the Federal Court.
Its county seat also went by New Troy until the county officially changed it to Mayo after protests. Eventually, in 1921, the county seat of Lafayette shifted to Dixie County. Aside from being one of the most historically rich counties in the region, Lafayette is also home to various attractions. These include the following:

  • The Hal. W. Adams Bridge started in 1947 on the Suwanee River. It has also gone down in history books as the first suspension bridge in Florida.
  • The Old Lafayette County house has nowadays converted into a beverage spot.

The entity responsible for safeguarding the county and its immediate environs is the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office. It's a law enforcement entity responsible for running county jails. Most of the funding for this department comes from the Federal Government and funds collected from county offices. 
Usually, the county jail accommodates inmates with relatively short prison terms, which can sometimes average less than one year. The Board of Commissioners, which features five managers, is also responsible for overseeing the roles of the other departments in the county. The Board works alongside the County Clerk's Office to achieve its regulatory and oversight mandate over other county offices. 

Location and Geographical Sites 

The eastern border of this community features the Suwannee River predominantly. As a result, there are various water bodies in this section of the region, which make it common among outdoor enthusiasts. Activities common in the area include diving, fishing, swimming, and paddling.
The Lafayette Blue Springs State Park is also famous for being home to notable springs and is the main base of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The other notable water bodies in the area include Convict, Owens, and Ruth Spring Park Springs. 
The county also features bicycle road trials, which are popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Among the most notable ones would be the 26-mile Mayo Loop, which traverses through various significant regions in the county. Many visit this region for its scenic environment and relatively lax cultural life. 
The only town county seat is Mayo, home to various high-end eatery joints and parks. While all these resources are available for public access, they are also under the welfare of the county and its law enforcement departments.
The other famous entity in the county is the Lafayette County Public School District. Its primary location is in Oxford, Florida, and it is an entity that increases in size over time. Currently, the region features four district public schools, each in the same jurisdiction. Using this approach to managing the school has been crucial for the county's success. 

Lafayette County Public Records 

Lafayette County maintains various types of vital records on its residents. The Florida Department of Health manages these records and maintains relevant statistical data for national departments. 
Anyone can access a copy of these records based on the Florida Public Records Law, which the state introduced in 1909. The best way to acquire these records is to contact the Lafayette County Clerk's Office. 
Unfortunately, these records aren't available for free access and will require $10. You may also require details such as photo identification and a driver's license to access these public records. 

Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department

The Sherriff's department is responsible for safeguarding all county regions, residents, and property. The office also offers various services, including corrections, dispatch, call center, and criminal investigations. As a county law enforcement department, officers patrol specific areas, including Cooks Hammock, Hatchbend, and Mayo Town. The sheriff's department's role involves providing convenient access to inmate information.

Lafayette County Detention Center, Florida

The Lafayette County Detention Center is a prison facility that houses different inmate classifications. On average, the jail houses up to 60 inmates and processes up to 1200 in total each year. 
While this county jail houses inmates that mostly have short-term prison terms, it also houses inmates with serious crimes. The jail also has an expansive role mandate, mostly housing and rehabilitating inmates in the community.
However, the prison terms for these inmates often span a few days as the jail process their incarceration cases further. The management of this prison facility also falls in the hands of the Lafayette County Sheriff's department. 
The department also provides inmate transportation services to the court or any other relevant location. Part of this detention center's functions involves using state-of-the-art security systems. These include intrusion detection centers, a K9 unit, and trained security guards.
As a collaborative agency, the Lafayette County Detention center functions alongside various other entities that include:

Inmate Lookup

Since the jail processes different types of inmates regularly, it maintains an online database that it uses to store these records. Furthermore, these records are available for public access and under law enforcement agencies' regulation. Some of the details that a user can access include mugshots, incarceration details, and I.D numbers. 
The jail often takes a few hours to process and upload these records, based on the response from the information department. The best way to search for inmates is by accessing the Lafayette County Detention Center online inmate roster. Users also have the alternative of calling the jail directly or sending an email for information access. 

Visiting an Inmate

If you want to visit an inmate at the Lafayette County Detention center, you must realize the jail maintains a strict inmate access schedule. Visitors must consult this schedule, which you can access through the prison or their main website. 
Any visitor must also ensure that they adhere to all the strict regulations the jail maintains for all visitors. These restrictions help ensure inmates don't gain access to illegal items. Some of the other rules for accessing inmates include:

  • No short or tight-fitting clothes are allowed at the jail.
  • All visitors and inmates have to go through checks before accessing the visitation area.
  • Children under the age of 18 can't visit inmates alone.
  • All visitors must be preselected on a specified list reserved by the jail.
  • No personal or other items will be exchanged unless the prison approves.

Commissary and Mail

While inmates at the Lafayette County Detention Center can access mail, the jail principal has strict regulations for their access. Anyone that wants to send mail to inmates has to adhere to a specific code of conduct. All inmate mails must include relevant personal details such as their name or jail I.D. numbers. 
The jail also accepts a limited list of items such as magazines, books, and various other forms of written content. Inmates can also receive mail, but the process has to occur based on the stipulations of the jail. All inmate mail must include relevant identification details and undergo prison checks. The role of these checks is to help ensure that inmates don't gain access to illegal items such as contraband. 
Inmates can also access commissary funds, which they can use to make purchases of specific personal items. These can include hygiene products, snacks, writing materials, and any other relevant item approved by the jail. The Lafayette County Detention Center also has a commissary deposit limit of $150.

Find out more by downloading the Lafayette CERT Brochure

or go to the CERT Web page

www.LafayetteCERT.org

















http://www.volunteerflorida.org/vfsites/FVM2009/toolkit.html




NOTICE - 28 April 2009
Swine Flu Talking Points from the State of Florida Emergency Operations Center



Swine Influenza Brochure

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/


Building and Zoning

CONTACTS FOR QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION:

Housing discrimination (not mortgage foreclosure or rental evictions) in Lafayette County: Chairman, Lafayette County Board of County Commissioners, phone 294-1600.

Employment discrimination by the Board of County Commissioners or Clerk of Court: Ricky Lyons , Clerk of Court, phone 294-1600, e-mail

Accessibility of County facilities: Robert Johnson, Building Official, phone 294-3611, e-mail

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