Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs has announced the appointment of Cornita A. Riley as chief of the Orange County Corrections Department, effective immediately.
The announcement came Tuesday following the conclusion of an extensive national search.
Riley began her career with the Florida Department of Corrections in the 1980s. She has more than 32 years of experience in the field of criminal justice, 14 of which have been with Orange County Corrections. She also has served as a deputy chief of the department since 2003.
"Cornita Riley has precisely the right mix of skills, dedication and good judgment necessary for this position," said Jacobs. "Chief Riley is committed to the pursuit of public safety on behalf of all Orange County citizens, including jail and operational practices that are founded in accountability.
"Under Chief Riley's leadership, we will become one of the most accountable systems in the nation, with operations that feature evidence-based practices."
Jacobs said Riley will be implementing an 18-month strategic plan that focuses on public safety and outcome measures, including superior jail, probation and program management and operations.
Riley began her corrections service as a probation and parole officer for the State of Florida, rising through the ranks to the position of regional assistant warden of Region III. She came to Orange County Corrections in 1999 as a division manager/major over special facilities and inmate services. She is a certified jail manager and a certified corrections executive.
In her role as chief, Riley will be responsible for more than 1,700 corrections officers and staff, 3,100 inmates, more than 6,000 cases under some form of alternative community sanction to include probation, pre-trial release, pre-trial diversion and community service, and about 40 juvenile inmates and offenders.
Sign Up
