Bay County commissioners made history back in 1985 when they took the Bay County Jail Operations away from the sheriff, Levelle Pitts, and signed a contract with the Corrections Corporation of America.

It was the first time a private company ever operated a county jail here in the United States. Now that history making relationship is coming to an end.

CCA wants out of its contract the sheriff's office could be interested in returning to take over jail responsibilities.

After 23 years of business, CCA and Bay County will part ways, and this is coming right before the new jail's completion.

Joseph Ponte, Bay County Jail warden, said, "They gave 150 days notice to the county saying they would no longer hold the contract here at Bay County Jail, and the reasons for that were business decisions based on profitability of this contract as it exist today."

The county is exploring other options and one of those would be to go back to the ways things were. The sheriffs office ran the jail before the county contracted with CCA and now that could be a possibility.

We have had some indication this may happen, it may occur. In preparation for what could happen the sheriff's office did some research.

Maj. J.B. Holloway, Bay County Sheriff's Office, said, "We have to some extent done some what if calls, and made a little bit of investigation into this, that and the other that would affect our decision if we're asked to take it over.”

Whether or not the sheriff's office will run the jail is still up in the air. The county could run it, or another private operator might be the answer.

The county commission will meet to make that decision. The departure of CCA will affect its current employees as well.

"CCA will work very hard to take care of the people that are part of the CCA family. It's a long standing contract so obviously very difficult to walk away."

After a long partnership CCA and Bay County will go their separate ways in October.

County commissioners will hold a workshop this Friday to discuss the future operation of the jail. Sheriff's officials will attend and Holloway says they may be interested in taking over the jail operation, under certain criteria.