COVID-19 INFORMATION

email block graphicA Message from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping our community both safe and informed, particularly while our nation fights an unprecedented health crisis. That is why we added this COVID-19 page to our website, where you can stay up to date with all things impacting both local law enforcement and YOU, the citizens we serve. Here you will find links to all announcements we make regarding changes to law enforcement services, important updates from state officials, links to resources, and more. This page will be regularly updated with new content and information as it becomes available. Stay safe!
 

The following information is current as of July 18, 2022:

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office shall provide weekly updates on COVID-19 cases within the Sarasota County Correctional Facility.

Total cases since the beginning of the pandemic: 258
Total active COVID-19 cases: 1 (today’s total inmate population: 981)
Total housing units on isolation: 0 (out of 42 total housing units)
Total hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic: 6 
Total active hospitalizations: 0
Total COVID-19-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic: 0
Total vaccinations administered to inmates: 1339
Total number of current inmates fully vaccinated: 301 (this number does not include those vaccinated prior to arrest)

General summary of current protocols
All inmates are issued masks. Staff wear masks when in close contact with inmates. Vaccinations are offered at no charge upon request. All new arrests are screened for symptoms and quarantined for 21 days.

All inmates are tested before moving between general population housing units. Symptomatic inmates are tested and isolated if positive.

The following changes are effective Monday, July 19, 2021:

Effective Monday, July 19, 2021, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will offer fingerprinting services only to Sarasota County residents & non-residents employed in Sarasota County on a Walk-In basis. Services are offered at our Sarasota headquarters located at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Services not provided on weekends and holidays.)

Please note: Any citizen seeking fingerprinting services as well as any sex offender or predator completing registration, MUST WEAR A MASK to our Sarasota headquarters. This protocol will remain in place until otherwise specified. Citizens will NOT be offered services if they are not wearing a mask. In an abundance of caution, sheriff’s office personnel conducting fingerprinting and registration services will ALSO wear masks. If you feel sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID19, PLEASE stay home.

If you have any questions regarding fingerprinting services, please call 941.861.4728.


The following changes are effective Monday, June 29, 2020:


Effective Monday, June 29, 2020, fingerprinting services for the general public will be offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. by appointment only. Citizens in need of fingerprinting services must contact our Fingerprint/Offender Registration Technician by phone at 941.861.4728 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are offered every 20 minutes during regular business hours. Services are solely offered to Sarasota County residents or non-residents employed within Sarasota County.

Registration services for sexual offenders and sexual predators are still offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Services will not be offered on weekends or holidays.

Any citizen seeking services MUST WEAR A MASK. This protocol will remain in place until otherwise specified. Citizens will NOT be offered services if they are not wearing a mask. In an abundance of caution, sheriff’s office personnel conducting fingerprinting and registration services will ALSO wear masks. If you feel sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID19, PLEASE stay home.

Please note: due to statutory requirements, criminal and career offender registrations take place at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility located at 2020 Main Street. Registration is available 24/7/365.


The following changes are effective Monday, June 15, 2020:


Please note the following changes in fingerprinting services:


Effective Monday, June 15, 2020, fingerprinting services for the general public will be offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Services are ONLY offered to Sarasota County residents or non-residents employed within Sarasota County.

Registration services for sexual offenders and sexual predators will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Services will not be offered on weekends or holidays.

Any citizen seeking services MUST WEAR A MASK. This protocol will remain in place until otherwise specified. Citizens will NOT be offered services if they are not wearing a mask. In an abundance of caution, sheriff’s office personnel conducting fingerprinting and registration services will ALSO wear masks. If you feel sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID19, PLEASE stay home.

Please note: due to statutory requirements, criminal and career offender registrations take place at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility located at 2020 Main Street. Registration is available 24/7/365.

The following news release was issued Thursday, May 21, 2020:
News Release 20-072 - May 21, 2020: Memorial Day Safety and COVID-19

The following changes are effective Thursday, May 21, 2020:


The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to resume fingerprinting services effective Thursday, May 21, 2020.


Please note the following changes in services: 

Effective Thursday, May 21, 2020, all sexual offenders, sexual predators, and members of the public seeking fingerprinting services must report to the sheriff’s office headquarters located at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., in Sarasota. Please note: Any citizen seeking services MUST WEAR A MASK. This protocol will remain in place until otherwise specified. Citizens will NOT be offered services if they are not wearing a mask. In an abundance of caution, sheriff’s office personnel conducting fingerprinting and registration services will ALSO wear masks. If you feel sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID19, PLEASE stay home.

Fingerprinting services for the general public will be offered Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Registration services for sexual offenders and sexual predators will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

 Services will not be offered on weekends or holidays.

Please note: due to statutory requirements, criminal and career offender registrations take place at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility located at 2020 Main Street. Registration is available 24/7/365.

The following changes are effective Monday, May 18, 2020:

While the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office continues to work through concerns related to COVID-19 while complying with state and national guidelines, our correctional facility has moved to limited on-site visitation. Within a limited capacity, the facility is offering on-site visitation to only twelve (12) appointments per fifty (50) minute block. No additional visitors will be permitted during these time blocks. In order to best serve our inmate population, the facility is also only allowing two (2) on-site visits per inmate per week. To participate in on-site visitation, visitors must comply with current CDC guidelines related to COVID-19. Your safety and ours is important which is why we have placed additional sanitizing supplies in the visitation area which is cleaned daily.

The following changes are effective Friday, May 1, 2020:

While the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office continues to work through concerns related to COVID-19 while complying with state and national guidelines, our correctional facility is slowly moving to limited on-site visitation beginning Friday, May 1, 2020. Within a limited capacity, the facility will offer on-site visitation to only nine (9) appointments per fifty (50) minute block. No additional visitors will be permitted during these time blocks. In order to best serve our inmate population, the facility is also only allowing two (2) on-site visits per inmate per week. To participate in on-site visitation, visitors must comply with current CDC guidelines related to COVID-19. Your safety and ours is important which is why we have placed additional sanitizing supplies in the visitation area which is cleaned daily.

As part of our continuing effort to keep you connected with your loved ones, the sheriff’s office in partnership with GTL is still offering each inmate one (1) free 15-minute video visitation, once a week, through May 17, 2020. In addition, one (1) free five-minute phone call per week and ten (10) free messages per thirty (30) days are now being offered to each inmate. The cost of all additional phone calls, electronic messages and visits through video visitation will remain as listed. Friends and family members can manage their internet video visits online at sarasotafl.gtlvisitme.com/app or by downloading the Android app "GTL Vismobile." 

Free visits will not be offered May 1-3; however, free visits will resume Monday, May 4 and continue through May 17.  

The following news conference featuring Sheriff Tom Knight was held Friday, April 10, 2020: 


The following changes are effective Tuesday, March 31, 2020: 

As the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office continues to address concerns related to COVID-19 and comply with state and national guidelines which limit social gatherings to 10 people, our correctional facility will be suspending on-site visitation beginning Saturday, March 21, 2020. To stay connected with your loved ones, the sheriff’s office in partnership with GTL is offering each inmate one (1) free 15-minute video visitation, once a week, through May 1, 2020. In addition, one (1) free five-minute phone call per week and ten (10) free messages per thirty (30) days are now being offered to each inmate. The cost of all additional phone calls, electronic messages and visits through video visitation will remain as listed. Friends and family members can manage their internet video visits online at sarasotafl.gtlvisitme.com/app or by downloading the Android app "GTL Vismobile."  

For internet video visitation, users must utilize Internet Explorer as their Web browser. The program is not compatible with Google Chrome or Apple products (i.e. iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.). For users experiencing technical difficulties, contact GTL Tech Support at 1.855.208.7349. As always, inmates can still communicate by phone & electronic messaging. *Please note refunds for internet visits will not be issued.*

The following news conference featuring Sheriff Tom Knight was held Monday, March 30, 2020: 


The following changes are effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020: 

The sheriff’s office is temporarily suspending all public fingerprinting services at both its Sarasota headquarters located at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., and the county’s correctional facility located at 2020 Main Street. Citizens will be notified when services resume.

All sex offenders and predators are no longer required to report to the county’s correctional facility and instead asked to report to the agency’s headquarters located at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., for registration. Due to statutory requirements, all criminal and career offender registrations will still take place at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility located at 2020 Main Street.

The following news release was issued Monday, March 23, 2020: 
News Release 20-046 - March 23, 2020: Sheriff's Office Continues COVID-19 Precautions

The following news release was issued Friday, March 13, 2020: 
News Release 20-043 - March 13, 2020: Sheriff's Office Takes COVID-19 Precautions