In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council.
Recently, DeSantis further expressed his faith and confidence in Edenfield by officially endorsing him in his run for re-election as Jackson County Sheriff.
Recently Edenfield also announced that the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) has received accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) for the first time in the history of our agency.
“When we took office in 2021, it was one of our top priorities to achieve accredited status,” Sheriff Edenfield said. “We have dedicated time and personnel to accomplish this goal in an effort to raise the expectations and performance of every employee and better serve the citizens of Jackson County.”
The accreditation process is a comprehensive review of the agency’s policies, procedures, and operations that includes an on-site assessment by CFA assessors. CFA assesses agencies on various standards related to law enforcement practices such as use of force, evidence management, training, and finances.
“Achieving accreditation through CFA is a testament to our staff’s dedication to serving the residents of Jackson County at the highest level,” Sheriff Edenfield said. “I want to thank the Florida Sheriffs Accreditation Assistance Program for helping us achieve this goal.”
Sheriff Donnie Edenfield was born and raised in Jackson County and graduated from Grand Ridge School.
He then went on to earn his associate’s degree at Chipola College, his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Troy University, and his Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Administration at the University of West Florida.
Sheriff Edenfield holds certifications in Corrections, Probation, and Law Enforcement. Prior to becoming Sheriff in 2020, Sheriff Edenfield served as a Corrections Officer at Jackson Correctional Institution for several years, then transitioned to a Classification Officer at Gadsden Correctional Institution and Jackson Correctional Institution.
From 2000 to 2017, he was a Probation Officer for Circuit 14, and from 2017 to 2020, he was the Regional Training Manager for Region One Community Corrections. Since 1998, Sheriff Edenfield has been an adjunct instructor at Florida Panhandle Technical College, Chipola College, and Florida Public Safety Institute, training recruits in all three standards – Probation, Corrections, and Law Enforcement.
In 2020, Edenfield was elected to the position of Jackson County, Florida Sheriff, where he has succeeded in establishing many new programs, with the result of an arguably lower crime rate accompanied by a higher conviction rate.
In addition, Edenfield is responsible for several new programs aimed at offering drug treatment and rehabilitation, along with improving recidivism rates.
‘We are very proud to accept the official endorsement of Governor DeSantis’, said Edenfield, ‘We continue to strive to contribute to the overall success DeSantis has had, and continues to enjoy, as Florida Governor.’
