Alachua County Jail Inmate Search

Alachua Jail was built in 1994. A jail with an inmate capacity of 920 beds, it contains 16 separate wings. Wings B, C, D, and E are older and smaller, containing 24 beds per wing, than the other, newly remodeled sections of the jail. All other wings of the jail contain 48 to 64 beds each.

The jail contains sections for both male and female inmates. The older, original sections of the jail have experienced significant operational issues in recent years. In a report generated by an independent consulting group, these issues of insufficient ventilation, lack of running water, and significantly marred plated glass was documented and solutions suggested for their proper resolution. The solutions included replacement of glass, replacement of certain sections of hvac ventilation, replacement of water pipes, and regular preventative maintenance of all other existing units. The operational issues were contained to wings B, C, D, and E, which are on the male section of the jail.

The jail has been subject to several attempted escapes. Robin Johnson, Jesse Long, and Tyreek Childs were inmates at the jail in the last quarter of year 2018. Robin Johnson and Jesse Long cut a hole in the ceiling of a utility closet, large enough to emit one individual at a time, while Tyreek Childs acted as look out. Johnson and Long were successful in cutting the hole, at which point Johnson climbed through the hole and into the ceiling. Johnson, Long, and Childs were soon caught in the attempt, as the guards noticed suspicious activity in the closet. Johnson had made it 25 feet in the ceiling before being caught and pulled out. Authorities at the jail claimed that had the attempt continued, they would have been unsuccessful as the ceiling space is cut off from any potential exterior exits. All were charged and given longer sentences as a result of the attempted escape.

Another escape attempt came at the hands of a con-man. Justin Lee Williams was serving time in the jail with Macajaih Valenzuela at the beginning of the year 2019. Williams contacted Sam Wesley Bail Bonds and posed as Valenzuela, who was on trial for second degree murder. Williams, posing as Valenzuela, claimed to have one-million dollars in a bank account. Valenzuela's bond was set at $935,000. Williams promised to pay Sam Wesley Bail Bonds $75,000 on the day bond was set and the additional ten-percent of the entire bond soon thereafter, if Sam Wesley posted bond. Sam Wesley agreed to the terms, but asked for verification of the funds. Williams gave the bondsman a phone number for his "personal banker". The "personal banker" was actually Temika Condra, An accomplice of Williams. Williams instructed Condra on the con, taught her how to forge verification documents and codes. The bondsman contacted Condra, who acted as the banker and forged the required documentation and sent the fake verification to him. Hours later, bond was posted for Valenzuela. His freedom was short lived, only a few days, as the bondsman quickly discovered the con. Williams, Valenzuela, and Condra were all charged with the escape.

Other issues have plagued the jails reputation. Alex Brown, a corrections officer in 2013, was negligent in preventing the near suicide of inmate Jermaine Green. Officer Brown was playing video games and listening to music on headphones during his shift, which was overseeing the suicide watch pods. While Brown was distracted, Green successfully freed himself from his vest restraints and proceeded to use those same restraints to hang himself. The attempt itself lasted for nearly one-hour, before another guard on duty noticed the attempt in progress. Green was revived and received the necessary medical attention and Brown was reprimanded. The situation highlights a microcosm of the issue of suicide at Alachua jail. Alachua jail is on a list of only six-percent of jails that experience two or more suicide attempts per year.

In 2007, Major Bob Chapman, then the warden, was placed on leave and subjected to an internal investigation. The investigation was in regards to sketchy dealings with inmates. Chapman was accused of giving preferential treatment to some inmates. The investigation was triggered when Chapman purchased a luxury vehicle from one of the inmates and that same inmate received preferential treatment. Chapman resigned in May of 2007.