Partnering for Success: Enterpol and the South
Florida Detention Center Project
When the state of Florida moved forward with building a new detention facility in the summer of 2025, speed was the name of the game. Constructed on a remote airstrip inside Big Cypress National Preserve, the South Florida Detention Center, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” was designed to house thousands of detainees and required a fully functioning technology infrastructure almost overnight.
Enterpol by Huber & Associates was called to deliver jail management software, training, and on-site support under extraordinary circumstances. The project tested every skill the Enterpol team had, and highlighted why adaptability, experience, and collaboration are at the core of Enterpol’s success.
A Unique and Challenging Site
The South Florida Detention Center was unlike any environment Enterpol had ever worked in. Built on a former training runway in the middle of the Everglades, the site had no existing infrastructure. Within days, crews had created a “pop-up city” complete with dining halls, bunkhouses for thousands of employees, and temporary buildings for intake and administration.
Conditions were extreme: oppressive July heat, swarms of mosquitoes, 24/7 construction, and long drives to the nearest towns. In this environment, Enterpol’s mission was clear: stand up a reliable jail management system that could handle large-scale intake and tracking, fast.
How Enterpol Got Involved
Many have asked: how did a company from Jefferson City, Missouri, become a key player in such a large-scale operation? The answer lies in the team’s expertise.
Enterpol has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions in high-stakes environments, built on years of specialized experience and a commitment to excellence. This wasn’t about being the biggest; it was about being the best fit. The team’s ability to deliver tailored, results-driven solutions, honed over years of rigorous projects, ensured they could meet the demands of this large-scale endeavor.
Several years earlier, during the Texas border crisis, the team worked with Gothams, a hardware contractor specializing in rapid response facilities. When Florida awarded Gothams the detention center project, they brought Enterpol onboard again, confident in their ability to deliver.
From the very first call in late June, Enterpol had just days to mobilize. By the following week, the team was on site with software, training laptops, and the experience to make it work.
Software Procurement in Days
Enterpol deployed its Jail Management System (JMS), a solution already refined for temporary detention environments. The software was loaded onto booking stations provided by Gothams, and a separate training environment was brought to the site so staff could learn hands-on.
Even with careful planning, logistics were a challenge. Shipments of laptops and equipment were delayed, forcing the team to improvise with a giant TV projection until their cases could be tracked down, literally by unloading a FedEx truck themselves.
Despite the hurdles, within nine days Enterpol had booking stations live, staff trained, and intake ready to go.
Training in Real Time
One of the most unique aspects of the project was training. Many intake officers had prior experience processing large populations but had little to no experience in a corrections environment or in jail management software. Some detention officers were hired through staffing agencies and had never worked in a facility before.
Enterpol adjusted by running rolling training sessions whenever groups were available, then coaching over the shoulder during live intakes.
With detainees arriving and the walls of the facility literally being built up around them, the Enterpol team rose to the challenge. The team went above and beyond, working countless hours assisting staff with bookings and troubleshooting in real time. Their ability to adapt under pressure helped stabilize intake during its most chaotic times.
Partnerships That Made the Difference
The project succeeded thanks to collaboration between multiple partners.
- Gothams managed hardware solutions for seamless rapid-response deployment.
- Guardian RFID provided tracking technology, integrating with Enterpol’s JMS to allow bulk movement of detainees with RFID wristbands.
- Enterpol ensured accurate booking, data management, and reporting.
Together, the three teams created a working ecosystem of software, hardware, and process under extraordinary timelines.
Results and Scale
By the end of the initial deployment, the South Florida Detention Center had scaled from an opening unit of just over 1,100 beds to a capacity of about 2,500 beds. Enterpol returnedone week later to provide additional training, reinforce workflows, and establish a ‘train-the- trainer’ model that allowed supervisors to continue onboarding new staff.
The results were clear:
- Faster, more efficient intake processes.
- Accurate data collection aligned with state and federal requirements.
- Real-time visibility of detainee location and movement.
- A sustainable training model to support turnover.
Lessons Learned and Experiences Gained
The South Florida project taught valuable lessons about the importance of clear procedures, organized staffing, and robust vendor collaboration. Those lessons were applied immediately to the North Florida Detention Center, where processes were smoother and the timeline was equally short.
Looking forward, Enterpol expects to support additional facilities in Florida. The experience demonstrated a potential niche for Enterpol: rapid deployment of correctional software solutions in challenging environments.
For many on the Enterpol team, the South Florida deployment was the most impactful project of their careers. Days stretched to 20+ hours, conditions were grueling, and yet the outcome was a functioning facility supported by reliable software and trained staff.
As one team member reflected on their once-in-a-lifetime career experience, “It was miserable in the moment, but legendary after the fact.”
More than a Software Solution
The South Florida Detention Center project proved what Enterpol does best: deliver scalable, reliable, and adaptable software solutions under pressure.
From procuring booking systems on a remote airstrip to coaching brand-new staff through their first intakes, Enterpol showed why public safety agencies across the country trust them for CAD, RMS, and JMS solutions.
Want to learn more about how Enterpol can support your agency? Visit Enterpol.com to explore our solutions.