1(1) 2It is the intent of the Legislature that law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, public agency offices of inspectors general, and those agencies offering pretrial diversion programs within offices of the state attorneys, county government, or sheriff’s offices in the state be upgraded and strengthened through the adoption of meaningful standards of operation for those agencies and their functions.
60(2) 61It is the further intent of the Legislature that these agencies voluntarily adopt standards designed to promote enhanced professionalism:80(a) 81For law enforcement, to maximize the capability of law enforcement agencies to enforce the law and prevent and control criminal activities.
102(b) 103For correctional facilities, to maintain best practices for the care, custody, and control of inmates.
118(c) 119Within public agency offices of inspector general, to promote more effective scrutiny of public agency operations and greater accountability of those serving in those agencies.
144(d) 145In the operation and management of pretrial diversion programs offered by and through the state attorney’s offices, county government, or sheriff’s offices.
167(3) 168The Legislature also intends to encourage the continuation of a voluntary state accreditation program to facilitate the enhanced professionalism identified in subsection (2). Other than the staff support by the department as authorized in subsection (5), the accreditation program must be independent of any law enforcement agency, the Department of Corrections, the Florida Sheriffs Association, or the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
229(4) 230The law enforcement accreditation program must address, at a minimum, the following aspects of law enforcement:246(a) 247Vehicle pursuits.
249(b) 250Seizure and forfeiture of contraband articles.
256(c) 257Recording and processing citizens’ complaints.
262(d) 263Use of force.
266(e) 267Traffic stops.
269(f) 270Handling natural and manmade disasters.
275(g) 276Special operations.
278(h) 279Prisoner transfer.
281(i) 282Collection and preservation of evidence.
287(j) 288Recruitment and selection.
291(k) 292Officer training.
294(l) 295Performance evaluations.
297(m) 298Law enforcement disciplinary procedures and rights.
304(n) 305Use of criminal investigative funds.
310(5) 311Subject to available funding, the department shall employ and assign adequate support staff to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc., and the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc., in support of the accreditation programs established in this section.
350(6) 351Accreditation standards related to law enforcement and inspectors general used by the accreditation programs established in this section shall be determined by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. Accreditation standards related to corrections functions and pretrial diversion programs shall be determined by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc.
