Sheriff takes steps to curb COVID-19 outbreak in Pinellas County Jail
June 12, 2020 - One day after announcing several cases of COVID-19 at the Pinellas County Jail, the sheriff's office has outlined a series of actions underway to curb the outbreak. Among the steps: Law enforcement agencies are being asked not to make physical arrests for misdemeanors, except for those charged with domestic violence, violations of injunctions or people who are a threat to public safety. All court appearances will be by videoconferencing, and judges have been asked to refrain from remanding defendants to custody, according to a news release from the Sheriff's office. Thirteen staff members and five inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, while test result are pending for 14 jail employees, the news release said.