StatementofAgencyOrg_October2021_Final.pdf

Updated October 2021 Page 1 This statement of agency organization and operation has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 28-101.001, FAC and is available to any person upon request. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) was created by Section 20.201, F.S. The mission of FDLE is to “promote public safety and strengthen domestic security by providing services in partnership with local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies to prevent, investigate, and solve crimes while protecting Florida's citizens and visitors”. Through its seven Regional Operations Centers (ROCs) and five Divisions, FDLE delivers investigative, forensic, information, training and protection/security services to Florida’s criminal justice community. In 1967, the Florida Legislature merged the responsibilities of several state criminal justice organizations to create the Bureau of Law Enforcement. The Bureau began with 94 positions, headed by a Commissioner who reported to the Governor, certain Cabinet members, two Sheriffs and one Chief of Police. Then in July 1969, due to government restructuring, the Bureau became FDLE. FDLE is composed of five divisions: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and the Florida Capitol Police. In addition, the department formally coordinates boards, councils, and commissions. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, F.S. and Chapter 11, F.A.C. The head of the department is the Governor and Cabinet. The Executive Director of the department (Commissioner) is appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Cabinet and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The Commissioner must be a Florida resident with at least five years training or experience in law enforcement. He or she may establish a command, operational and administrative services structure to assist, manage and support the department in operating programs and delivering services. Agency publications, documents, forms, applications, etc. may be obtained via FDLE’s website or by calling FDLE Headquarters at (850) 410-7000. The FDLE mailing address is: Florida Department of Law Enforcement P.O. Box 1489 Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489 The agency clerk is Sandy Thompson. Her mailing address is Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Office of General Counsel, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489 and email address is AgencyClerk@fdle.state.fl.us. The agency clerk’s duties include record keeping of all documents filed with the agency pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S., and indexing/filing of all final agency actions and orders. Documents may be filed during regular hours of operation, from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding state observed holidays. Any document received by the agency clerk after 5:00pm shall be filed as of 8:00am on the next regular business day. Updated October 2021 Page 2 Information concerning the filing of documents can be obtained via the Office of General Counsel (OGC) at (850) 410-7676. A person who files a document by electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be aware: 1. That the original physically signed document must be retained by that party during the duration of the proceeding and during any subsequent appeal or proceeding in that cause, and that the party shall produce it upon the request of other parties; and 2. That any delay, disruption, or interruption of the electronic signal may result in the untimely receipt of your document, which may result in the dismissal of your request and that in filing by electronic mail or facsimile transmission you accept the full risk that the document may not be properly filed with the clerk as a result. To obtain information about variances or waivers of agency rules, individuals should contact Assistant General Counsel, Christopher Bufano, in the OGC at (850) 410-7681. His mailing address is Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Office of General Counsel, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489. Additional information about variances and waivers can also be found on FDLE’s website. HEADQUARTERS PHONE NUMBERS General Information……………………………………………………………………....(850)410-7000 Commissioner’s Office…………………………………………………………………...(850)410-7001 Agency Clerk………………………………………………………………………….…..(850)410-7676 Public Information Office.……………………………………………............................(850)410-7001 Business Support ………..……………………………………………………….….…..(850)410-7260 Investigations and Forensic Science ….….……………………………………………(850)410-8300 Criminal Justice Information …………………………………………………………….(850)410-7100 Criminal Justice Professionalism ………………………...……………………..…..….(850)410-8600 Florida Capitol Police…………………………………………………………………….(850)488-1790 EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND BUSINESS SUPPORT Provides management, coordination, and leadership to the agency, and ensures that FDLE's mission and objectives are being followed, pursuant to Chapters 20 and 943, F.S., and Chapter 11, F.A.C. This includes the Offices of Executive Director, Chief of Staff (COS), Inspector General, Executive Investigations, Protective Operations Bureau and OGC. The agency’s planning and research function is housed within COS and provides analysis and research dealing with key issues of interest to the law enforcement community and FDLE. OGC is designated as the custodian of records for all public record requests pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S. and its attorneys are authorized to accept service of legal documents on behalf of the Commissioner and FDLE. Provides the internal framework needed to support the agency’s business operations and administrative functions. Services include the Offices of Budget Management, Research Planning and Policy Analysis, General Services, Financial Management, Human Resources and Criminal Justice Grants. These services assist FDLE's divisions by coordinating and providing the business activities necessary for the daily operations of the agency. INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC SCIENCE Manages, coordinates and provides investigative and forensic services pursuant to Sections 943.04, 943.26 - 943.36, F.S., through headquarters and seven ROCs located in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Miami and Ft. Myers. Updated October 2021 Page 3 Conducts independent investigations and coordinates multi-jurisdictional and major impact criminal investigations with local, state, and federal authorities within FDLE’s major focus areas: violent crime, economic crime, drug crime, public integrity, computer crime and domestic security/counterterrorism. Investigates officer-involved shootings and in-custody incidents resulting in serious injury or death. Coordinates various department investigative components including aviation, child abduction response teams, cyber high-tech crimes, mutual aid, missing persons and sexual offender/career offender registration and enforcement through the Office of Statewide Investigative Services. Coordinates and directs counterterrorism, targeted violence prevention and domestic security preparedness efforts for the state of Florida, through seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces (RDSTFs), the Office of Statewide Intelligence (OSI) and regional counterterrorism squads. RDSTFs are co-chaired by FDLE special agents in charge and either a Florida sheriff or police chief from the region. Working closely with federal, state and local agencies, the department is committed to enhancing Florida’s domestic security preparedness relating to threats and acts of terrorism through the implementation of Florida's Domestic Security Strategy. OSI houses the Florida Fusion Center, which includes FDLE’s 24/7 information sharing and intelligence functions and the Florida Intelligence Center, which works in conjunction with other criminal justice agencies to identify and monitor emerging crime trends, counterterrorism activities and issues of importance to Florida’s criminal justice landscape. Offers forensic services on physical evidence collected and submitted for analysis by law enforcement agencies and/or collected by FDLE’s crime scene teams through six regional crime laboratories. Provides scientific analysis and expert testimony on evidentiary materials in the following disciplines: seized drugs, toxicology, friction ridge, biology/DNA, firearms, crime scene investigation, document examination, footwear and tire, trace materials and digital evidence. Houses the state's DNA Database, which collects, analyzes and stores DNA samples from offenders convicted and/or arrested for designated crimes. Utilizes powerful forensic databases such as the Biometric Identification System, the FBI Next Generation Identification System, the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network and the Combined DNA Indexing System. Offers forensic genetic genealogy and familial search testing to support previously unsolved investigations statewide. CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION Provides central repository of criminal justice information for the state of Florida and operates under the authority of Section 943.05, F.S. and Chapter 11C, F.A.C., including criminal history records, criminal subject biometrics, wanted and missing persons, gang members and violent felony offenders, stolen vehicles, boats, guns and property and domestic violence injunctions emergency protection orders. The information is furnished to all Florida criminal justice agencies through the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC), which links agencies to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The program also hosts the Criminal Justice Network (CJNet) which is a secure private cloud environment that provides criminal justice agencies access to various software services hosted by the Florida criminal justice community. Ensures quality of data available in the FCIC system and plays a major role in the development of policy for national sharing of criminal justice information with the FBI and other states. Provides training to agencies to ensure FCIC/NCIC users adhere to the FBI’s CJIS Security Policy requirements. Offers criminal identification screening services to criminal justice agencies, non-criminal justice agencies and private citizens to identify persons with criminal warrants, arrests and convictions that impact employment, licensing, eligibility to purchase a firearm, as well as a variety of criminal justice functions, and seal or expunge records. Provides Updated October 2021 Page 4 immediate positive identification of fingerprints of arrested persons and an automatic update of the criminal history files via the Biometric Identification System. Supports the Uniform Crime Reporting and the Florida Incident-Based Reporting System, including use of force and hate crime reporting, and the Criminal Justice Data Transparency initiative, including development of the uniform arrest affidavit. Provides information technology capabilities critical to today’s law enforcement community. Provides network services, hardware, software, programming, technical support, systems analysis, web design, host/server support, end user computing and field system support for FDLE systems and databases. Provides statewide support via the Customer Support Center and maintains the technical infrastructure supporting all FDLE systems and networks, as well as the CJNet. CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALISM Promotes and facilitates competency and professional conduct of Florida's criminal justice officers and delivers training to FDLE members and Florida’s criminal justice community. Works with criminal justice agencies to provide entry-level and in-service officer training and to maintain disciplinary standards, pursuant to Sections 316.1932, 316.1933, 322.63, 327.352, 943.09 - 943.25, F.S. and Chapters 11B, 11D-8 and 11K, F.A.C. Develops and implements criminal justice training curricula and certification examinations for law enforcement, corrections and correctional probation officer applicants. Designs and provides in-person and free, online education and training programs in response to the needs of the department and the criminal justice community. Ensures Florida's criminal justice officers and training schools maintain compliance with the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s approved minimum standards of officer conduct and training. Maintains certification and employment information for active certified criminal justice officers in Florida and conducts audits of officer training schools to ensure compliance with rules and law. Coordinates disciplinary actions against officers failing to meet prescribed standards. Provides intensive training seminars for criminal justice executives and managers on contemporary law enforcement issues. Administers the state’s alcohol testing program through inspections of alcohol breath test equipment and permitting of equipment operators and blood alcohol analysts. Aids Florida law enforcement agencies in their accreditation efforts via staffing support to the Commission on Florida Accreditation. FLORIDA CAPITOL POLICE Provides uniformed law enforcement operations to ensure the safety and security for the Governor’s Office, the Cabinet, Legislature, visiting dignitaries and other state officials and employees and visitors to the Capitol Complex and Capitol Circle Office Complex, under authority of Section 943.61, F.S. Prevents criminal or terrorist activity from disrupting government and normal business operations. Responds promptly to various threats, disruptions or other unlawful activities in order to quickly and safely return executive and legislative branches to normal operations. BOARDS/ COUNCILS/ COMMISSIONS The following boards, councils and commissions are coordinated by FDLE: The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. was established pursuant to Section 943.125, F.S., to develop a program for accreditation achievable by all Florida law enforcement agencies. Its primary goal is to establish uniform law enforcement standards throughout the state that are, industry best practices, practical, easily understood and clearly Updated October 2021 Page 5 interpreted. The Commission, through its standards, ensures agencies and their personnel are accountable to the constituency they serve. In 2007, the Commission created standards and a process specifically to accredit organizations with Inspector General responsibilities. The Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc. was created pursuant to Section 943.125, F.S., and serves as Florida’s jail accreditation program. Accreditation standards are based primarily on the Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS). To make the most comprehensive and beneficial program available, additional standards were adopted to address personnel, fiscal, and other areas not covered under the FMJS. In 2007, the Commission created standards and a process specifically to accredit organizations with pre-trial responsibilities. In 2016, the pretrial program was expanded to include probation offices. The Medical Examiners Commission was created pursuant to Section 406.02, F.S., and Chapter 11G, F.A.C., to oversee the operation of the medical examiners statewide and establishes minimum and uniform standards of excellence in medical examiner services. The Commission investigates violations of Chapter 406, F.S., or Chapter 11G, F.A.C., and responds to inquiries made by the public or others concerning medical examiner activities in the state. The Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council was created within FDLE pursuant to Section 943.031, F.S., and Chapter 11N, F.A.C., to address violent criminal activity and coordinate drug enforcement efforts. As funds are appropriated by the Legislature, the Council reviews and approves disbursement requests. The Victim/Witness Protection Review Committee was created within the Council to review and approve or deny all requests for reimbursement of victim/witness protection funding. The Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council was created pursuant to Section 943.06, F.S. It provides statewide oversight of justice information systems and data while developing plans and policies to facilitate the coordination of information sharing and interoperability, and ensuring appropriate access and security. The Council has specific statutory oversight duties for CJNet, the Florida Incident-Based Reporting System, Criminal Justice Data Transparency and the uniform arrest affidavit initiatives and is also the independent oversight body required for the receipt of federal criminal justice grants in Florida. The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission was created within FDLE, pursuant to Section 943.11, F.S., and Chapter 11B, F.A.C. It establishes uniform entry standards for the employment and training of criminal justice officers, certifies officers who meet the minimum standards and administers appropriate administrative sanctions in instances when an officer, instructor or certified training center is found in violation of state standards. The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Policy Board was established within FDLE pursuant to Section 943.1755, F.S. It establishes administrative procedures and operational guidelines to ensure that criminal justice executive training needs are identified and met through the delivery of quality instruction. The Domestic Security Oversight Council was established pursuant to Section 943.0313, F.S., to provide executive direction and leadership with respect to terrorism prevention, preparation, protection, response, and recovery efforts by state and local agencies in Florida. Chaired by the FDLE Executive Director, it serves as an advisory council to provide guidance to the state's Regional Domestic Security Task Forces and other domestic security working groups and to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the expenditure of funds and allocation of resources related to counter-terrorism and domestic security efforts. Updated October 2021 Page 6 The Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse Advisory Board supports awareness, education, and training for the prevention, response and recovery of missing and endangered persons. The Board is a diverse mix of law enforcement officials, parents of victims, government agencies, missing children non-profit organizations and business community members who have an interest in missing persons issues. The members are chosen from around the state to a provide balanced representation of Florida. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission – Following the Pulse Nightclub and Parkland high school tragedies, the 2018 Legislature passed legislation aimed at improving public safety in Florida across various arenas, including gun safety, mental health and school safety. The legislation also established this commission in Section 943.687 F.S., to investigate system failures in the Parkland school shooting and prior mass violence incidents, develop recommendations for system improvements and report them to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2019. The commission may issue reports annually, thereafter, until it sunsets July 1, 2023.