Code of Ethics

Code of Conduct:
I. I will never forget that I am a public official sworn to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Florida.

(Of course I will never forget I’m a public official! My paycheck is a constant reminder! Central Office (AKA upper management) doesn’t appear to uphold the Constitution of Florida, which in turn would require them to uphold the Laws of Florida. Case in point for example, the statutory requirement for CC officers to have restricted caseloads and their caseload should not exceed 25. They have violated this statutory requirement for over the past 2 years ever since they created that arbitrary point system to establish caseloads, completely ignoring the Laws of Florida. Also specialist are not supposed have caseloads exceeding 40 per Florida statute, but then again the department still falls upon the point system, not recognized by law, to establish the number of cases they maintain. How can they demand us line officers to memorize this so called code of conduct when they (Central Office) does not adhere to it in letter and spirit? What happened to leading by example?)

II. I am a professional committed to the public safety, the support and protection of my fellow officers, and co-workers, and the supervision and care of those in my charge. I am prepared to go in harm’s way in fulfillment of these missions.

(I would be prepared to go in harm’s, but currently the department does not adequately equip or train its officers. Our in-service defensive tactics training is a joke [once a year?], half of which is devoted to handcuffing which we are not allowed to do in the office any more [refer to the Bay 9 News Report, To Cuff or Not To Cuff]. The last word I heard from management was let the offender run if they want too if they are in violation of their probation in the office. Sounds like they want us out of harms way? P.S. If I had time, I would go into how DOC dress code limits us going into the harms way they want us too!)

III. As a professional, I am skilled in the performance of my duties and governed by a code of ethics that demands integrity in word and deed, fidelity to the lawful orders of those appointed over me, and, above all, allegiance to my oath of office and the laws that govern our nation.

(Allegiance to my oath of office? I thought I was hired to my position, not elected. Oath of Offices are for elected officials and governmental employees appointed by their respective governing bodies (i.e. appointed by Governor or President, etc) requiring confirmation of a legislative body


IV. I will seek neither personal favor nor advantage in the performance of my duties. I will treat all with whom I come in contact with civility and respect. I will lead by example and conduct myself in a disciplined manner at all times.

(I like this code of conduct! Specifically this section, IV. I would like to see all of management follow it, especially those demanding statically perfection on their printouts! They are so focused on their computer print outs that come out of Tallahassee or our their respective Regions. They want all late or due investigations done by COB when they announce it! Regardless of the circumstances without any civility or respect to the officers! Bottom line is, get it done! Or you are written up.

V. I am proud to selflessly serve my fellow citizens as a member of the Florida Department of Corrections.

(I do selflessly serve the Florida Department Corrections! But I’m not proud! I’m looking for a more realistic leadership!)

(Of course I will never forget I’m a public official! My paycheck is a constant reminder! Central Office (AKA upper management) doesn’t appear to uphold the Constitution of Florida, which in turn would require them to uphold the Laws of Florida. Case in point for example, the statutory requirement for CC officers to have restricted caseloads and their caseload should not exceed 25. They have violated this statutory requirement for over the past 2 years ever since they created that arbitrary point system to establish caseloads, completely ignoring the Laws of Florida. Also specialist are not supposed have caseloads exceeding 40 per Florida statute, but then again the department still falls upon the point system, not recognized by law, to establish the number of cases they maintain. How can they demand us line officers to memorize this so called code of conduct when they (Central Office) does not adhere to it in letter and spirit? What happened to leading by example?)

The points system is designed to be comply with statute. The statute states that CC cases, pure caseload, should be 25. (25x1=25) Do you think a CC officer should only have 10 CC cases and 15 min or best case max? (10+7.5 {15max}=17.5) CC cases are given a point value of 1. Sex offenders .0625 (.0625 x40=25)

The only deviation from statute is conditional release which is given a value of .5 versus the .0625 reccomended by statute.

The statutes are also written in a format of vaugeness. They use word like "may or should" not the "will". Some even include a clause which indicates if staffing is available.



(I would be prepared to go in harm’s, but currently the department does not adequately equip or train its officers. Our in-service defensive tactics training is a joke [once a year?], half of which is devoted to handcuffing which we are not allowed to do in the office any more [refer to the Bay 9 News Report, To Cuff or Not To Cuff]. The last word I heard from management was let the offender run if they want too if they are in violation of their probation in the office. Sounds like they want us out of harms way? P.S. If I had time, I would go into how DOC dress code limits us going into the harms way they want us too!)


AMEN

[/quote]

[Darth Duck]

The 25 cap is a should not a must, and like the last post said that is pure cc cases. Where in statute do you find a 40 case load? The only place I find it is where they are talking about inmates with certain offenses who have probation to follow. Unfortunately the case load caps are a myth that many officers bring up without reading the statute.

947.1405 Conditional release program.--
(8) It is the finding of the Legislature that the population of offenders released from state prison into the community who meet the conditional release criteria poses the greatest threat to the public safety of the groups of offenders under community supervision. Therefore, the Department of Corrections is to provide intensive supervision by experienced correctional probation officers to conditional release offenders. Subject to specific appropriation by the Legislature, caseloads may be restricted to a maximum of 40 conditional release offenders per officer to provide for enhanced public safety and to effectively monitor conditions of electronic monitoring or curfews, if so ordered by the commission.

948.10 Community control programs.--
(3) The department shall commit not less than 10 percent of the parole and probation field staff and supporting resources to the operation of the community control program. Caseloads should be restricted to a maximum of 25 cases per officer in order to ensure an adequate level of staffing. Community control is an individualized program in which the offender is restricted to noninstitutional quarters or restricted to his or her own residence subject to an authorized level of limited freedom

948.12 Intensive supervision for postprison release of violent offenders.--It is the finding of the Legislature that the population of violent offenders released from state prison into the community poses the greatest threat to the public safety of the groups of offenders under community supervision. Therefore, for the purpose of enhanced public safety, any offender released from state prison who:

(1) Was most recently incarcerated for an offense that is or was contained in category 1 (murder, manslaughter), category 2 (sexual offenses), category 3 (robbery), or category 4 (violent personal crimes) of Rules 3.701 and 3.988, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure (1993), and who has served at least one prior felony commitment at a state or federal correctional institution;

(2) Was sentenced as a habitual offender, violent habitual offender, or violent career criminal pursuant to s. 775.084; or

(3) Has been found to be a sexual predator pursuant to s. 775.21,

and who has a term of probation to follow the period of incarceration shall be provided intensive supervision by experienced correctional probation officers. Subject to specific appropriation by the Legislature, caseloads may be restricted to a maximum of 40 offenders per officer to provide for enhanced public safety as well as to effectively monitor conditions of electronic monitoring or curfews, if such was ordered by the court.

I want to cross out harms way and write when I am trained and have the right equipment I will do this, what you think they can do to me.

The 25 cap is a should not a must, and like the last post said that is pure cc cases. Where in statute do you find a 40 case load? The only place I find it is where they are talking about inmates with certain offenses who have probation to follow. Unfortunately the case load caps are a myth that many officers bring up without reading the statute.

here is the 40 language for Specialists and the 50 on DOP cases.

From the statutes....
Clearly states the caseloads but doesnt actually say must but of course if the legislator says you "should" then they will push for it to be followed not wanting scrutiny if 1 does a major crime that makes the News....
(4) "Drug offender probation" means a form of intensive supervision which emphasizes treatment of drug offenders in accordance with individualized treatment plans administered by officers with restricted caseloads. Caseloads should be restricted to a maximum of 50 cases per officer in order to ensure an adequate level of staffing.
10) "Sex offender probation" or "sex offender community control" means a form of intensive supervision, with or without electronic monitoring, which emphasizes treatment and supervision of a sex offender in accordance with an individualized treatment plan administered by an officer who has a restricted caseload and specialized training. An officer who supervises an offender placed on sex offender probation or sex offender community control must meet as necessary with a treatment provider and polygraph examiner to develop and implement the supervision and treatment plan, if a treatment provider and polygraph examiner specially trained in the treatment and monitoring of sex offenders are reasonably available.
(2) "Community control" means a form of intensive, supervised custody in the community, including surveillance on weekends and holidays, administered by officers with restricted caseloads. Community control is an individualized program in which the freedom of an offender is restricted within the community, home, or noninstitutional residential placement and specific sanctions are imposed and enforced.
3) The department shall commit not less than 10 percent of the parole and probation field staff and supporting resources to the operation of the community control program. Caseloads should be restricted to a maximum of 25 cases per officer in order to ensure an adequate level of staffing. Community control is an individualized program in which the offender is restricted to noninstitutional quarters or restricted to his or her own residence subject to an authorized level of limited freedom.
1) Was most recently incarcerated for an offense that is or was contained in category 1 (murder, manslaughter), category 2 (sexual offenses), category 3 (robbery), or category 4 (violent personal crimes) of Rules 3.701 and 3.988, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure (1993), and who has served at least one prior felony commitment at a state or federal correctional institution;
(2) Was sentenced as a habitual offender, violent habitual offender, or violent career criminal pursuant to s. 775.084; or
(3) Has been found to be a sexual predator pursuant to s. 775.21,

and who has a term of probation to follow the period of incarceration shall be provided intensive supervision by experienced correctional probation officers. Subject to specific appropriation by the Legislature, caseloads may be restricted to a maximum of 40 offenders per officer to provide for enhanced public safety as well as to effectively monitor conditions of electronic monitoring or curfews, if such was ordered by the court.

948.001 Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:
(4) "Drug offender probation" means a form of intensive supervision which emphasizes treatment of drug offenders in accordance with individualized treatment plans administered by officers with restricted caseloads. Caseloads should be restricted to a maximum of 50 cases per officer in order to ensure an adequate level of staffing.

I wonder how much it has cost the citizens of the State of Florida to print out all these Code of Conduct posters, 8x10 print outs, and mini business cards. There is a big poster in our reception area, the 8x10’s are plastered throughout office walls, and all employees are getting these mini business cards (they are almost the same size as a regular business card but the font type has to be less than 10 pt). So their are over 26,000 employees getting these cards, including clerical who apparently have to lay their lives on the line too!

I find it difficult to believe that a person with a West Point education and an MIT graduate would conclude that by mandating that we memorize and carry around his version of morality/reality that the Department would become a better place and protect the public. He must have missed the class about “you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink.” His Code of Conduct will not change the department or enhance public safety! As far as community corrections. goes, let’s review all the new secretary’s changes. No Jeans. Code of Conduct, and Oath of Allegiance. No reduction in case load and paper work. No effective change protecting the public. He’s only imposing his version of morality/reality.

I wonder how much it has cost the citizens of the State of Florida to print out all these Code of Conduct posters, 8x10 print outs, and mini business cards. There is a big poster in our reception area, the 8x10’s are plastered throughout office walls, and all employees are getting these mini business cards (they are almost the same size as a regular business card but the font type has to be less than 10 pt). So their are over 26,000 employees getting these cards, including clerical who apparently have to lay their lives on the line too!

I find it difficult to believe that a person with a West Point education and an MIT graduate would conclude that by mandating that we memorize and carry around his version of morality/reality that the Department would become a better place and protect the public. He must have missed the class about “you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink.” His Code of Conduct will not change the department or enhance public safety! As far as community corrections. goes, let’s review all the new secretary’s changes. No Jeans. Code of Conduct, and Oath of Allegiance. No reduction in case load and paper work. No effective change protecting the public. He’s only imposing his version of morality/reality.

I wonder how much it has cost the citizens of the State of Florida to print out all these Code of Conduct posters, 8x10 print outs, and mini business cards. There is a big poster in our reception area, the 8x10’s are plastered throughout office walls, and all employees are getting these mini business cards (they are almost the same size as a regular business card but the font type has to be less than 10 pt). So their are over 26,000 employees getting these cards, including clerical who apparently have to lay their lives on the line too!

I find it difficult to believe that a person with a West Point education and an MIT graduate would conclude that by mandating that we memorize and carry around his version of morality/reality that the Department would become a better place and protect the public. He must have missed the class about “you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink.” His Code of Conduct will not change the department or enhance public safety! As far as community corrections. goes, let’s review all the new secretary’s changes. No Jeans. Code of Conduct, and Oath of Allegiance. No reduction in case load and paper work. No effective change protecting the public. He’s only imposing his version of morality/reality.

It is good for 6 months.