St. Johns County Sheriff's Office

What St. Johns County Sheriff's Office does

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) is the primary county-level law enforcement agency serving St. Johns County, Florida — one of the fastest-growing counties in the state — tracing its institutional history to 1821, the year the county was established. Today led by the 28th Sheriff, Robert A. Hardwick, SJSO operates accredited patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and corrections divisions across a central HQ, an Emergency Communications and Training Center, four regional offices (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, South), and a Detention Center complex. The agency holds four-way accreditation under CALEA (international), CFA, FCAC, and FLA-TAC, signifying compliance with statewide and international law-enforcement standards.

SJSO's revenue mechanics are characteristic of a public-sector agency: the bulk of funding flows from county tax appropriations and statutory fee schedules rather than commercial contracts, supplemented by four disclosed user-fee streams — public records fees (processed through GovQA/Square), off-duty deputy services ($55-$80/hr via RollKall with a 5%+2.99% platform fee), civil process unit pricing under Florida Statute 30.231 (e.g., $40 summons, $90 writ of possession, $60/hr escort, $2,500 writ execution deposit), and inmate communications revenue from SmartJailMail ($0.25/min remote video visitation, $0.16/min phone, plus state tax). Distribution is exclusively direct/government: in-person service delivery through the PSAP/911 Communications Center (which dispatches for SJSO, St. Augustine PD, and St. Augustine Beach PD), field patrol across county regions, jail/court services, and online self-service portals for records, inmate search, off-duty hiring, and event permitting.

Core "products" beyond enforcement include community engagement programs (Citizen Law Enforcement Academy, Teen Driver Challenge, Explorer Post 911, W.A.V.E., LEVEL UP Teen Academy), specialized vulnerability registries (SAFE Program for special-needs individuals, Project Lifesaver for wanderers, K9 Scent Kits), victim advocacy, HR-218 firearms qualification for retired officers, and a multi-channel public information stack including a dedicated podcast (SJSO Unlocked), a Ring Neighbors integration, and an active press-release cadence. As a public government entity rather than a privately owned company, SJSO is not investor-backed and is not a target for PE/VC/M&A investment.

Name

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office

Legal name

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office

Website

https://sjso.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1821

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is the primary county-level law enforcement agency in St. Johns County, Florida, providing patrol, criminal investigations, corrections, and 911/PSAP communications, complemented by community engagement, vulnerable-population registries, victim advocacy, and fee-based civil, records, off-duty, and inmate-communication services to county residents, visitors, and partner municipal agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Police Protection (922120), Correctional Institutions (922140)

akta.pro primary industry

Police Services (Patrol, Response & Community Policing) (BPAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

Keywords

• Law enforcement services
• Public safety operations
• Corrections and detention
• Emergency communications
• Community policing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Augustine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Records Fees: Fees charged for processing public records requests including incident reports, address searches, body worn camera footage, local records checks, crash reports. Fees based on Florida Statute and vary by record type and time required to fulfill request.
2. Off-Duty Deputy Services: Private businesses and citizens hire SJSO deputies for supplemental law enforcement services including security presence, traffic enforcement, traffic control, funeral escorts, and large scale events. Revenue from LE Deputy hourly rates of $55-$80/hour and RollKall platform fees.
3. Civil Process Fees: Fees for civil legal processes including summons/subpoena ($40), writ of possession ($90), child custody orders ($90), deputy escort services ($60/hour), and writ of execution deposits ($2,500 starting). Non-refundable fees per Florida Statute 30.231.
4. Inmate Communication Services: Revenue from inmate communication services including video visitation at $0.25/minute and phone calls at $0.16/minute plus tax, provided through Smart Communications/SmartJailMail platform.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office delivers comprehensive law enforcement, corrections, and emergency communications services to St. Johns County, Florida residents and visitors. Core operations include patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, a detention center operating two facilities, and a 911 Public Safety Answering Point. The agency supplements these operations with specialized community programs for vulnerable populations (SAFE, Project Lifesaver, K9 Scent Kits), youth engagement initiatives (Explorer Post 911, Teen Driver Challenge, LEVEL UP Teen Academy), and fee-based transactional services such as public records requests, off-duty deputy hiring, civil process serving, and inmate communication services.

Product overview

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office operates as a fully-accredited law enforcement agency (CALEA, CFA, FCAC, FLA-TAC) offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on core law enforcement and corrections operations, supplemented by specialized community programs and modern digital services. The core offerings include patrol and criminal investigations, a detention center managing inmates across two facilities, and court services. The agency provides specialized registry programs including SAFE (special needs individuals), Project Lifesaver (wanderer tracking), and K9 Scent Kits for locating missing persons. Community engagement products include the Teen Driver Challenge, Explorer Post 911 for youth, Citizen Law Enforcement Academy, W.A.V.E. self-defense training, and the LEVEL UP Teen Academy. Modern digital services include public records requests via GovQA portal, video visitation through SmartJailMail, the SJSO on Neighbors app integration, and the SJSO Unlocked podcast. The agency also manages victim advocacy, public safety event applications, a ride-along program, and HR-218 firearms qualification for retired officers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Law Enforcement Patrol and Criminal Investigations Comprehensive law enforcement services including patrol operations across St. Johns County, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and special operations. Provided by a state and internationally accredited agency (CALEA, CFA, FCAC, FLA-TAC) serving county residents and visitors.
• Corrections Division and Detention Center Services Care, custody, and control of inmates across two detention facilities. Includes court services, inmate programs, communication and visitation services, and inmate search functionality. Operates under Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC) standards.
• 911 Emergency Communications (PSAP) Public Safety Answering Point providing 24/7 emergency call answering and dispatch services. Handles over 100,000 emergency 911 calls annually exceeding national standards for answering times. Includes GIS mapping and addressing services for accurate location identification.
• Public Records Request Services Processing and fulfillment of public records requests including incident reports, body-worn camera footage, local records checks, crash reports, and address searches. Submitted through the GovQA portal with fees varying by record type and research time required; new rates effective January 1, 2026.
• Off-Duty Deputy Services Supplemental law enforcement services available to private businesses, event organizers, and citizens. Includes security presence, traffic enforcement, traffic control, funeral escorts, and large-scale event coverage. Hourly rates range from $55 to $80 with 3-hour minimum and $11M General Liability coverage included.
• Civil Process Services Service of civil legal documents including summons/subpoena ($40), writ of possession ($90), child custody orders ($90), injunctions ($0), deputy escort services ($60/hour), and writ of execution deposits starting at $2,500. Non-refundable fees set by Florida Statute.
• Inmate Communication Services Video visitation and phone services for inmates housed at SJSO detention facilities. Remote video visits at $0.25/minute, on-site video visits free (4 x 30-minute visits weekly), and phone calls at $0.16/minute plus tax. Funded through JailATM deposits to inmate accounts.
• Victim Advocacy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Handled over 100,000 emergency 911 calls annually exceeding national standards for answering times

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership with FBI on Operation Safe Passage targeting subjects who use the internet to prey on children. FBI participated in the four-day undercover operation resulting in 17 arrests.
• Port Orange Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Participated in Operation Safe Passage targeting internet predators. Contributed to the multi-agency operation resulting in arrests.
• North Florida ICAC Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership on Operation Safe Passage targeting subjects who use the internet to prey on children.
• Jacksonville Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Participated in Operation Safe Passage. Additionally, a civilian employee from Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was arrested during the operation for charges including Human Trafficking and Armed in Commission of Felony.
• State Attorney's Office 7th Judicial Circuit of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnered on Operation Safe Passage and subsequent prosecution efforts for cases involving internet predators.
• Nassau County Sheriff's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Participated in Operation Safe Passage multi-agency operation.
• U.S. Department of Homeland SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Federal partner on Operation Safe Passage targeting internet predators and child exploitation.
• Clay County Sheriff's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Participated in Operation Safe Passage multi-agency operation targeting internet predators.
• Lake City Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Participated in Operation Safe Passage multi-agency operation.
• Intercept Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnered on Operation Safe Passage targeting internet predators and child exploitation cases.
• St. Augustine Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partner on both Operation Safe Passage and Operation Unified Watch (sex offender compliance). Also shares dispatch services through SJSO Communications Center PSAP.
• Florida Department of Law EnforcementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partner on Operation Unified Watch for sex offender and predator compliance verification. Contacted 249 registered sex offenders during the operation.
• Florida Department of CorrectionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partner on Operation Unified Watch for sex offender compliance checking within the county.
• United States Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Collaborated on the arrest and prosecution of Derrick Walden for the 2023 double murders of Cody Bennett and Tre' Lyons. Also involved in federal prosecution for Walden's felony firearm possession.
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Partnered on the investigation into the 2023 double murders of Cody Bennett and Tre' Lyons, working with SJSO, FBI, and U.S. Attorney's Office.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orange County Sheriff's Office (Florida): Florida county sheriff's office providing law enforcement, corrections, and emergency response to Orange County in Central Florida. Direct peer to SJSO in comprehensive service offerings including patrol, investigations, detention, and PSAP, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Flagler County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing patrol, investigations, corrections, and community programs to Flagler County, FL. Direct peer to SJSO given geographic proximity in Northeast Florida, similar Florida-specific law enforcement operating environment, and overlapping community service offerings.
• Nassau County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing law enforcement, corrections, and emergency response to Nassau County in Northeast Florida. Direct operational peer to SJSO, with documented participation in multi-agency task forces including Operation Safe Passage.
• Clay County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing patrol, criminal investigations, corrections, and emergency services to Clay County in Northeast Florida. Direct operational peer to SJSO, with an established partnership on joint operations such as Operation Safe Passage.
• Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO): Jacksonville's consolidated city-county law enforcement agency providing police patrol, criminal investigation, corrections, and emergency communications across Duval County, FL. JSO is a direct operating peer to SJSO, both functioning as full-service NE Florida law enforcement agencies with shared multi-jurisdictional task force participation.
• Putnam County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing patrol, investigations, corrections, and community services to Putnam County, FL. Comparable to SJSO as a county-level Florida sheriff with similar service portfolio and operational structure, though at smaller scale.
• Volusia County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing comprehensive law enforcement, corrections, and emergency communications to Volusia County in East Central Florida. Comparable to SJSO in operational structure, scale, accredited status, and service portfolio spanning patrol, investigations, and detention.
• Seminole County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing law enforcement, corrections, and emergency response to Seminole County in Central Florida. Direct peer to SJSO in comprehensive service offerings, CALEA-accredited operations, and Florida sheriff operating model.
• Lake County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing patrol, investigations, corrections, and emergency communications to Lake County in Central Florida. Comparable to SJSO in scope of services, integrated PSAP operations, and accredited sheriff structure.
• Alachua County Sheriff's Office: Florida county sheriff's office providing law enforcement, corrections, and emergency response to Alachua County in North Central Florida. Direct peer to SJSO in operational scope, accredited sheriff status, and Florida-specific law enforcement context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TeamSJSO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TeamSJSO
• Facebookfacebook.com/StJohnsSheriffsOffice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teamsjso
• Instagraminstagram.com/TeamSJSO

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Johns County Sheriff's Office