Bill > S1218

This bill: Creates the Florida Correctional Operations Oversight Council within the Office of Chief Inspector General to oversee the operations of the Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice, with the council having the power to conduct inspections, investigate facilities, and make recommendations. The bill appropriates funding and authorizes positions to support the council. Authorizes a mutual aid agreement between law enforcement agencies in the event of a declared state of emergency to increase law enforcement presence for tasks like traffic and crowd control. Requires each judicial circuit to establish a Driver License Reinstatement Days program to help individuals get their suspended driver's licenses reinstated in certain circumstances. Authorizes a court to impose a sentence other than a mandatory minimum for a person convicted of drug trafficking if certain criteria are met, such as the person not engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and not using violence. Creates new requirements for the collection and reporting of criminal justice data by various entities, including courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and correctional facilities. The Department of Law Enforcement is tasked with compiling and publishing this data. Establishes a supervised bond program in each county that may use a risk assessment instrument to determine appropriate supervision for certain defendants released pending trial. Directs the Department of Corrections to develop a risk assessment instrument to evaluate offenders for appropriate placement and programming. Allows probation officers to impose alternative sanctions for certain low-level technical violations of probation or community control, rather than filing a violation report with the court. Authorizes the creation of community court programs in each judicial circuit for certain misdemeanor offenses. Creates a certificate of achievement and employability program to help eligible inmates and ex-offenders overcome certain employment and licensing barriers. Requires the Department of Corrections to publish certain data on its website, including inmate admissions by offense type and the recidivism rate. Makes various other changes related to criminal justice procedures and programs.

Budget and Finance, Justice

Appropriations (S), Criminal Justice (S)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/1218