5600 Nehi Road
Panama City, FL 32404
850-785-3007
Fax: 850-769-7376

Facility Public Information Officer: Mary Hughes (Mary.Hughes@correctionscorp.com)

Facility Type: Male & Female, Multi-level security, Managed since 1986

Warden: Joseph Ponte

Joeseph Ponte joined CCA as warden at the Bay County Jail/Annex. He began with Massachusetts Department of Corrections in 1969 as a correctional officer and held positions as superintendent, director for staff development and assistant deputy commissioner before leaving 21 years later. He also served as an assistant director for institutions and operations at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections; regional director with East Coast Operations under Cornell Corrections Corporation; director of correctional services with Union County Corrections in New Jersey; administrators of prisons with the Idaho Department of Corrections; jail chief with the Shelbyville County Sheriff's Department in Memphis, Tennessee; and a consultant with CCA and other corrections organizations. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Bridgewater State College and an associate's degree in business management from Fisher College.

Total beds: 575

Customer base: Bay County, Fla., U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, USAF, TRANS

State legislation created Bay County in 1913 with three townships. These towns were consolidated into greater Panama City by a legislative act in 1926. The growth of Panama City was stimulated during World War II with the construction of Tyndall Air Force Base, a Navy Base and Wainwright Shipyard. The military still plays a significant economic role for the area, with thousands of military and civilian personnel employed at the 20,000-acre Tyndall Air Force Base, making it the largest employer in Bay County. Bay County has grown to a population of more than 147,000. Homes, recreation areas and businesses dot the countryside, but the main attractions are still the world's most beautiful beaches with more than 27 miles of beautiful, white sand beaches. St. Andrew's State Park on Panama City Beach was rated number 1 out of 650 U.S. beaches studied.

Community Relations: Major W.E. Miller, Chief Deputy Bay County Sheriff's Office; Mr. Robert Hooper, Principal Callaway Elementary School; Bob Jones, Unisource Sales Representative; Mike Aguilar, Enviromed Sales Representative; Max Bowden, Vice President, Lending, Tyndall Federal Credit Union; Mike Bunker, Bay Pest Control; Earnest Jordan, Chief Investigator, Springfield City Commissioner Public Defender's Office; Mr. Hoot Crawford, Attorney; Sharon Burdeshaw, Director Public Service Division, Gulf Coast Community College; Kaylynn Presley, R.N., Bay Medical Center; Greg Rinehart, Pastor, Bible Believers.

Community Activities: BCJA supports many community organizations: Boys and Girls Club of Bay County; Bay County District Schools; Bay County Special Olympics - Law Enforcement Torch Run; American Cancer Society - Relay for Life; R.L. Turner Little League; Florida Sheriff's Association.

Visitation Schedule: Week One Visitation: Saturday Discovery 1 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (A Dorm) Discovery 2 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (B Dorm) Sunday Discovery 3 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (C Dorm) Challenger 1 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (J Dorm) Challenger 4 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (P Dorm) Monday Endeavour 7 ? 4:30 p.m. ? 6:30 p.m. (Juveniles) Challenger 2 ? 7:00 p.m. ? 9:00 p.m. (Approved K Dorm) Challenger 3 ? 7:00 p.m. ? 9:00 p.m. (Approved M Dorm) Tuesday Endeavour 2 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (H Dorm) Wednesday Endeavour 3 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (G Dorm) Endeavour 4 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (F Dorm) Endeavour 5 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (E Dorm) Week Two Visitation: Saturday Endeavour 2 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (H Dorm) Sunday Endeavour 3 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (G Dorm) Endeavour 4 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (F Dorm) Endeavour 5 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (E Dorm) Monday Endeavour 7 ? 4:30 p.m. ? 6:30 p.m. (Juveniles) Challenger 2 ? 7:00 p.m. ? 9:00 p.m. (Approved K Dorm) Challenger 3 ? 7:00 p.m. ? 9:00 p.m. (Approved M Dorm) Tuesday Discovery 3 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (C Dorm) Challenger 1 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (J Dorm) Challenger 4 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (P Dorm) Wednesday Discovery 1 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (A Dorm) Discovery 2 ? 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm (B Dorm) Inmates will be allowed two (2) hours of visitation per week. Any partial use of an hour will be considered one (1) full hour of visitation.

Awards: CCA's Facility of the Year (1992) JTPA Employer of the Year Appreciation Award (1994) CCA's Best Performance in Financial Performance (1997) CCA's Best Performance in Quality of Service Delivered (1998) Bay District Schools Outstanding Business Partnership Award (1998-99)

Tour Contact: Assistant Facility Administrator [850-785-3007]