FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2025
On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, representatives of the Okaloosa County Branch, NAACP, joined by Mr. Paul Mixon, Chairman of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, and senior jail leadership, conducted an inspection of the County Jail located at 1200 E. James Lee Blvd, Crestview, Florida. The visit revealed significant overcrowding, a disproportionately large pretrial population, and inadequate infrastructure to support basic inmate programming and activities.
Key Observations:
- Capacity and Population: The jail is designed to house 594 individuals but currently accommodates an estimated 752 inmates.
- Pretrial Detentions: Approximately 90% of those detained are awaiting trial or unable to post bail, rather than serving sentences for convictions.
- Overcrowding Conditions: Numerous portable beds were observed; inmates occupied these beds while navigating limited space within pods and cells, resulting in noticeably cramped conditions.
- Program Infrastructure Deficit: The facility lacks sufficient space for classrooms, vocational training, recreation, library access, and technology resources required to deliver essential educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs. Staffing levels and program coordination remain inadequate to ensure consistent service delivery.
- Health, Safety, and Justice Impacts: The combined challenges of overcrowding and limited programming for a high pretrial population impede access to healthcare and sanitation, contribute to mental health decline, increase risks of violence and self-harm, and hinder rehabilitation efforts critical for reducing recidivism.
Call to Action
The Okaloosa County NAACP expresses appreciation to jail administration, corrections personnel, medical staff, and others for their cooperation and professionalism during the visit. The pressing convergence of overcrowding, a largely pretrial population, and insufficient program infrastructure represents a significant public safety, public health, and justice concern. Immediate action from county leadership is necessary. The NAACP urges the Board of County Commissioners to introduce emergency measures for population relief, expand and reform pretrial alternatives, and invest in facility and staffing improvements to enable evidence-based programming that supports mental health and reduces repeat offenses.
“Our community deserves a criminal justice system that is fair, humane, and focused on rehabilitation—not simply confinement. The current conditions at Okaloosa County Jail highlight an urgent need for change. We must work together to ensure safer, healthier, and more just outcomes for all,” said Sabu Williams, President of the NAACP, Okaloosa County Branch.
Contact:
Quanda Pace
Press & Publicity Chair,
NAACP, Okaloosa County Branch
Email: ocnaacp@gmail.com
Phone: 850-783-0047