Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has developed an extensive crime prevention program that includes many tools such as their award-winning kiosks, DUI prevention vehicle, their PSA “Hummer” vehicle, and other PSAs involving billboard ads, TV, and radio spots.
Because they do not have a Scared Straight program at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Blair added a mobile jail cell to his arsenal of public safety and awareness fixtures to simulate such a program.
The mobile jail cell will be taken to schools and community events in an effort to discourage those young and old from committing unlawful acts that could lead to jail time.
The mobile jail cell is an 8X12 foot utility trailer, which has very similar dimensions to an actual cell in the Marion County Jail. The trailer has a stainless steel toilet and sink, a mattress, pillow, and uniform — all handmade by Marion County inmates.
Basic amenities like a toothbrush, food tray, and shoes are on display. To top it off, the trailer has a jail door with iron bars attached to its side. Razor wire along the roof completes the look.
Signs inside the trailer give the history of the jail, the costs of being incarcerated, and the impact it has on families.
This educational tool was paid through Marion County’s Crime Prevention Fund and comes at no cost to Marion County taxpayers.