Chapter 944 — Chapter 944
103 sections in this chapter.
Fla. Stat. § 944.46 Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners; penalty
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Whoever harbors, conceals, maintains, or assists, or gives any other aid to any prisoner after his or her escape from any state correctional institution, knowing that he or she is an escaped prisoner, shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 7…
Fla. Stat. § 944.47 Introduction, removal, or possession of contraband; penalty
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(1)(a) Except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of the correctional institution, it is unlawful to introduce into or upon the grounds of any state correctional institution, or to take or attempt to take or send or attempt to send therefrom, any of th…
Fla. Stat. § 944.471 Short title
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Sections 944.471-944.473 may be cited as the “Drug-Free Corrections Act of 1992.”
Fla. Stat. § 944.472 Drug-free corrections; legislative findings and purposes
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(1) FINDINGS.—The Legislature finds that:(a) Inmate substance abuse can cause a multitude of security and programmatic problems, including staff corruption, development of an unsafe and unproductive workplace, and the inability of inmate substance abusers to profit from vocationa…
Fla. Stat. § 944.473 Inmate substance abuse testing program
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(1) RULES AND PROCEDURES.—The department shall establish programs for random and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing by urinalysis or other noninvasive procedure for inmates to effectively identify those inmates abusing drugs, alcohol, or both. The department shall also…
Fla. Stat. § 944.4731 Addiction-Recovery Supervision Program
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(1) This section may be cited as the “Addiction-Recovery Supervision Program Act.”(2)(a) Any offender released from a state correctional facility who is convicted of a crime committed on or after July 1, 2001, must be given addiction-recovery supervision if the offender has:1. A …
Fla. Stat. § 944.474 Legislative intent; employee wellness program; drug and alcohol testing
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(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state correctional system provide a safe and secure environment for both inmates and staff. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce, and security of the state correctional system can best be provided by strong and healthy emp…
Fla. Stat. § 944.48 Service of sentence
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Whenever any prisoner is convicted under the provisions of ss. 944.44-944.47, the punishment of imprisonment imposed shall be served consecutively to any former sentence imposed upon any prisoner convicted hereunder.
Fla. Stat. § 944.485 Subsistence fees with respect to certain prisoners; time of adoption; requirements
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(1) In recognition of the fact that many prisoners in the correctional system have sources of income and assets outside of the correctional system, which may include bank accounts, inheritances, real estate, social security payments, veteran’s payments, and other types of financi…
Fla. Stat. § 944.512 State lien on proceeds from literary or other type of account of crime for which convicted
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(1) A lien prior in dignity to all others shall exist in favor of the state upon royalties, commissions, proceeds of sale, or any other thing of value payable to or accruing to a convicted felon or a person on her or his behalf, including any person to whom the proceeds may be tr…
Fla. Stat. § 944.516 Money or other property received for personal use or benefit of inmate; deposit; disposition of unclaimed trust funds
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The Department of Corrections shall protect the financial interest of the state with respect to claims which the state may have against inmates in state institutions under its supervision and control and shall administer money and other property received for the personal benefit …
Fla. Stat. § 944.52 Legal adviser
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The Department of Legal Affairs shall be the legal adviser of the Department of Corrections.
Fla. Stat. § 944.596 Transfer of convicted foreign citizens or nationals under treaty
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When a treaty is in effect between the United States and a foreign country providing for the transfer of a convicted offender who is a citizen or national of a foreign country to the foreign country of which she or he is a citizen or national, the Governor or the Governor’s desig…
Fla. Stat. § 944.597 Transportation and return of prisoners by private transport company
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(1) The department is authorized to contract with private transport companies for the transportation of prisoners both within and beyond the limits of this state. Each prisoner shall be taken into custody by the transport company for the purpose of transportation and then deliver…
Fla. Stat. § 944.602 Agency notification before release of intellectually disabled inmates
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Before the release by parole, release by reason of gain-time allowances provided for in s. 944.291, or expiration of sentence of any inmate who has been diagnosed as having an intellectual disability as defined in s. 393.063, the Department of Corrections shall notify the Agency …
Fla. Stat. § 944.605 Inmate release; notification; identification card
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(1) Within 6 months before the release of an inmate from the custody of the Department of Corrections or a contractor-operated correctional facility by expiration of sentence under s. 944.275, any release program provided by law, or parole under chapter 947, or as soon as possibl…
Fla. Stat. § 944.606 Sexual offenders; notification upon release
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(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Convicted” means there has been a determination of guilt as a result of a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld. A conviction for a similar offense includes, but is not …
Fla. Stat. § 944.607 Notification to Department of Law Enforcement of information on sexual offenders
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(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Change in status at an institution of higher education” has the same meaning as provided in s. 775.21.(b) “Conviction” means a determination of guilt which is the result of a trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, reg…
Fla. Stat. § 944.608 Notification to Department of Law Enforcement of information on career offenders
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(1) As used in this section, the term “career offender” means a person who is in the custody or control of, or under the supervision of, the department or is in the custody or control of, or under the supervision of, a contractor-operated correctional facility, and who is designa…
Fla. Stat. § 944.609 Career offenders; notification upon release
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(1) As used in this section, the term “career offender” means a person who is in the custody or control of, or under the supervision of, the department or is in the custody or control of, or under the supervision of a contractor-operated correctional facility, who is designated a…
Fla. Stat. § 944.611 Legislative intent
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The Legislature finds and declares that:(1) It is desirable that each inmate be confined in and released from an institution or facility as close to the inmate’s permanent residence or county of commitment as possible, in order to lessen the transportation expense to the public.(…
Fla. Stat. § 944.612 Definitions for s. 944.613
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As used in s. 944.613, the term:(1) “Florida releasee” means:(a) An inmate paroled before expiration of his or her sentence, who will be supervised at the location shown on his or her parole certificate.(b) An inmate whose sentence has expired or who is released by means of gain-…
Fla. Stat. § 944.613 Methods of transportation
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(1) OUT-OF-STATE RELEASEE.—In instances when a releasee intends or is required to leave the state, transportation shall be provided by common carrier utilizing the most economical means. Transportation as authorized herein shall be furnished by nonnegotiable travel voucher payabl…
Fla. Stat. § 944.70 Conditions for release from incarceration
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(1)(a) A person who is convicted of a crime committed on or after October 1, 1983, but before January 1, 1994, may be released from incarceration only:1. Upon expiration of the person’s sentence;2. Upon expiration of the person’s sentence as reduced by accumulated gain-time;3. As…
Fla. Stat. § 944.701 Short title
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Sections 944.701-944.708 may be cited as the “Transition Assistance Program Act.”
Fla. Stat. § 944.702 Legislative intent
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It is the intent of the Legislature to provide persons released from incarceration from the Department of Corrections with certain fundamental resources in the areas of employment, life skills training, job placement, and access to as many support services as possible in order to…
Fla. Stat. § 944.703 Eligible inmates
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Sections 944.701-944.708 apply to all inmates released from the custody of the department. However, priority should be given to substance-addicted inmates to help break the cycle of drug abuse, prostitution, and other self-injurious criminal behavior that causes harm to families …
Fla. Stat. § 944.7031 Eligible inmates released from contractor-operated correctional facilities
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(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that state inmates nearing release from a contractor-operated correctional facility managed under chapter 957 are eligible for assistance under ss. 944.701-944.708, and all laws that provide for or mandate transition assistance services to …
Fla. Stat. § 944.704 Staff who provide transition assistance; duties
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(1) The department shall provide a transition assistance specialist at each of the major institutions.(2) The department may increase the number of transition assistance specialists in proportion to the number of inmates served at each of the major institutions and may increase t…
Fla. Stat. § 944.705 Release orientation program
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(1) The department shall provide participation in a standardized release orientation program to every eligible inmate.(2) The release orientation program instruction must include, but is not limited to:(a) Employment skills.(b) Money management skills.(c) Personal development and…
Fla. Stat. § 944.706 Basic release assistance
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(1) Any inmate who is being released is eligible for transition assistance. Those inmates released to a detainer are eligible pursuant to s. 944.703.(2) The department may contract with the Department of Children and Families, the Salvation Army, and other public or private organ…
Fla. Stat. § 944.7065 Transition course for inmates
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In an effort to ensure that inmates released from the Department of Corrections successfully reenter the community, beginning December 1, 2002, each inmate released from incarceration by the department must complete a 100-hour comprehensive transition course that covers job readi…
Fla. Stat. § 944.707 Postrelease special services; job placement services
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(1) The department shall generate and provide to every releasee, identified by the prerelease needs assessment, support services such as, but not limited to, substance abuse counseling, family counseling, and employment support programs. The department may select and contract wit…
Fla. Stat. § 944.7071 Operation New Hope
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As authorized by and consistent with funding appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, the department may contract, in accordance with s. 944.706, with Operation New Hope, a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, t…
Fla. Stat. § 944.708 Rules
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The Department of Corrections shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of ss. 944.701-944.707.
Fla. Stat. § 944.710 Definitions of terms relating to contractor-operated state correctional facilities and s. 944.105
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As used with respect to contractor-operated state correctional facilities and s. 944.105, the term:(1) “Bidder” means any individual, partnership, corporation, or unincorporated association that submits a proposal with the department to construct, lease, or operate a contractor-o…
Fla. Stat. § 944.711 Requests for proposals
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The department shall develop a request for proposals to construct or construct and operate a single-cell prototype institution or any facility of the department specified in s. 945.025. Competitive proposals shall be solicited by the department pursuant to chapter 287.
Fla. Stat. § 944.712 Bidder and private vendor qualifications
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Any private vendor selected by the department must have the qualifications and operations and management experience to carry out the terms of the contract. In submitting a proposal, the bidder must demonstrate financial ability to fulfill the requirements of the contract and must…
Fla. Stat. § 944.713 Insurance against liability
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(1) A bidder must provide an adequate plan of insurance against liability, including liability for violations of an inmate’s civil rights by an insurance agency licensed in this state, pursuant to chapter 287. The insurance plan shall, at a minimum, protect the department from ac…
Fla. Stat. § 944.714 Quality assurance and standards of operation
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(1) The level and quality of programs provided by a private vendor at a contractor-operated correctional facility must be at least equal to programs provided at a correctional facility operated by the department that houses similar types of inmates and must be at a cost that prov…
Fla. Stat. § 944.715 Delegation of authority
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(1) A private vendor shall incarcerate all inmates assigned to the contractor-operated correctional facility by the department and as specified in the contract. The department may not exceed the maximum occupancy designated for the facility in the contract.(2) Inmates incarcerate…
Fla. Stat. § 944.716 Contract termination and control of a correctional facility by the department
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A detailed plan shall be provided by a private vendor under which the department shall assume control of a contractor-operated correctional facility upon termination of the contract. The department may terminate the contract with cause after written notice of material deficiencie…
Fla. Stat. § 944.717 Conflicts of interest
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(1) An employee of the department or any governmental entity that exercises any functions or responsibilities in the review or approval of a contractor-operated correctional facility contract or the operation of a contractor-operated correctional facility, or a member of the imme…
Fla. Stat. § 944.718 Withdrawal of request for proposals
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(1) When soliciting proposals for the construction, lease, or operation of a contractor-operated correctional facility, the department may reserve the right to withdraw the request for proposals at any time and for any reason. Receipt of proposal materials by the department or su…
Fla. Stat. § 944.719 Adoption of rules, monitoring, and reporting
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(1) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 120 specifying criteria for contractual arrangements and standards for the operation of correctional facilities by private vendors. Such rules shall define:(a) Various categories of contractor-operated correctional faciliti…
Fla. Stat. § 944.72 Contractor-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund
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(1) There is hereby created in the Department of Corrections the Contractor-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund. The purpose of the trust fund shall be the benefit and welfare of inmates incarcerated in contractor-operated correctional facilities under contract with t…
Fla. Stat. § 944.73 State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund
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(1) The State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund is created within the Department of Corrections. The purpose of the trust fund is to benefit and provide for the welfare of inmates incarcerated in state-operated correctional facilities.(2) Moneys shall be deposited a…
Fla. Stat. § 944.801 Education for state prisoners
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(1) There is hereby established under the Department of Corrections a Correctional Education Program which shall be composed of the educational facilities and services of all institutions and facilities housing inmates operated by the Department of Corrections and shall be superv…
Fla. Stat. § 944.802 Direct-support organization; definition; use of property; board of directors; audit
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(1) DEFINITION.—For the purpose of this section, the term “direct-support organization” means an organization:(a) That is a corporation not for profit that is incorporated under chapter 617, exempted from filing fees, and approved by the Department of State;(b) Organized and oper…
Fla. Stat. § 944.803 Faith- and character-based programs
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(1) The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and character-based programs offered in state and contractor-operated correctional institutions and facilities have the potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help inmates assume personal responsibility, and red…