33-601.603: Furloughs
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect of the proposed rule is to clarify that inmates on community custody status are eligible to be considered for furlough, to update form names and numbers, and to amend for grammatical accuracy.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule specifies that community custody inmates are eligible to be considered for furlough, updates form names and numbers, and generally edits language for grammatical accuracy.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The agency has determined that this rule will not have an impact on small business. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 945.091 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 945.091 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Perri King Dale, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
33-601.603 Furloughs.
(1) No change.
(2) Definitions.
(a) Furlough – The program that which allows inmates to visit in the community for specified purposes and under certain conditions.
(b) through (d) No change.
(e) Non-relative sponsor – A person approved through the furlough sponsor process who that is not a relative an immediate family member of the inmate.
(f) No change.
(g) Non-Advanceable Release Date – A release date that which cannot be reduced by the application of discretionary gain time.
(3) Policy Statement.
(a) Except as limited in this rule, the limits of confinement for inmates participating in the furlough program will be relaxed extended in area and in time to the degree necessary to allow the inmate to travel to the furlough destination, accomplish the purpose for which the furlough was authorized, and return to the facility. The limits will be specified in writing and the inmate will be advised of the limits prior to the issuance of a furlough.
(b) The department will allow inmates to leave the principal places of their confinement unaccompanied by a custodial agent for a prescribed period of time not accompanied by a custodial agent.
(c) No change.
(d) The decision as to which inmates shall be allowed to leave the principal places of their confinement shall be based upon criteria set forth in subsection (6) of this rule 33-601.603(6), F.A.C.
(e) through (f) No change.
(4) Requirements and General Considerations.
(a) Participation in the furlough program is not a right, but a privilege that which must be earned by the inmate.
(b) No change.
(c) The objectives of the furlough program is are to contribute to the total rehabilitation of the inmate by any of the following means:
1. Easing Ease the transition from prison back to the community.
2. Seeking Seek employment that which may be retained after the inmate is released from the facility.
3. Helping Help determine the inmate’s readiness for release.
4. Preserving Preserve family and community ties.
5. Permitting Permit the inmate to develop or maintain occupational skills.
(d) General conditions applicable to participation in the furlough program are as follows:
1. No change.
2. No inmate participating in the on a furlough program shall be allowed to operate any type of motor vehicle. Transportation shall be provided by the furlough sponsor or the facility. Public transportation shall be authorized when a furlough sponsor does not possess private means of transportation or when such transportation is required due to time or distance limitations. If public transportation is used, the cost of such transportation shall be paid by the inmate or sponsor.
3. No change.
(e) No change.
(f) Upon request of the inmate, community and minimum custody inmates will be considered for furlough providing:
1. No change.
2. If a detainer exists from an outside agency, the detaining authority has, in writing, not objected to for the inmate’s participation inmate to participate in the furlough program;
3. No change.
5. Any additional requirements or conditions imposed for the particular type of furlough requested are met; and
6. There is cause to believe that the inmate will honor the trust bestowed upon him or her. All furloughs shall be verified by the approving authority for the legitimacy and authenticity of the furlough requested by the approving authority.
(5) Furlough Sponsors.
(a) No change.
(b) Factors used in assessing the appropriateness of an applicant to serve as a furlough sponsor are:
1. through 3. No change.
4. Any other factor that which impacts the safety and security of the public, institution, or inmate;
5. Whether the potentional sponser is Must be a relative of the inmate, unless no such relative is available. In that event, a non-relative furlough sponsor shall be utilized.
(c) A furlough sponsor will not be approved if:
1. The applicant Applicant is under any active felony supervision;
2. The applicant Applicant has introduced or attempted to introduce contraband into any correctional facility within the last 10 years as documented by an incident report, or evidenced by a finding of guilt by a court or administrative body;
3. The applicant Applicant has assisted or attempted to assist an escape or escape attempt from any correctional facility;
4. The applicant Applicant or inmate has committed a violation of department regulations during furlough activities in which the applicant has served as a sponsor, within the last five years;
5. The applicant Applicant or inmate has given false information at any point during the application process, unless it is reasonably determinable that the incorrect information was provided as a result of an inadvertant or good faith mistake, omission, or clerical error.
(d) Approval to serve as furlough sponsor is subject to termination at any time for the reasons stated below:
1. through 4. No change.
5. Information acquired by the department that supports reasonable belief that the sponsor’s conduct or behavior does not promote the goals and objectives of the furlough;
6. Any other Sponsor is deemed to present a threat to the security, order, or rehabilitative objectives of the correctional system, or to the safety of any person posed by continued participation by the sponsor.
(6) Type A Furloughs.
(a) No change.
(b) Other conditions that which apply to type A furloughs are:
1. Inmates must be community or minimum custody;
2. through 4. No change.
5. An inmate shall abide by all conditions in Form DC6-178 DC6-152, the Type A Furlough Agreement;
6. There are no limitations on the number of Type A furloughs that which may be granted;
7. No change.
(c) No change.
(7) Community Supervision Type A Furloughs.
(a) Pregnancy Furloughs.
1. Female inmates in the last trimester of pregnancy shall be considered for a Type A furlough if:
a. The inmate Inmate meets all criteria outlined in this rule;
b. The inmate is within 36 months of release unless, serving a sentence with a non-advanceable release date or a current commitment of 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree murder or attempt, in which case the inmate shall be within 15 months of her release date;
c. The chief health officer verifies that the level of medical care that which will be rendered to the inmate outside the institution is comparable to or greater than that which could be rendered to the inmate within the institution.
2. A plan of community supervision shall be developed by the classification specialist and approved by the approving authority of the inmate’s facility, and arrangements shall be made for monitoring the inmate’s activities while on furlough.
a. The plan of community supervision shall include supervision contact by probation and parole services while the inmate is on furlough status. The furloughing facility shall contact probation and parole services in the city where the inmate will be residing during the furlough period, and develop community control supervision contact standards. The developed plan will be attached to the furlough request.
b. through d. No change.
3. No change.
4. An inmate Inmates shall be considered for placement at the a community correctional center nearest to her their residence upon satisfactory completion of the pregnancy furlough.
(b) Medical Furloughs.
1. No change.
2. In order to be eligible for a medical furlough, the inmate must be recommended by the Chief Health Officer, Regional Health Services Director, and classification team, and the recommendation must be endorsed by the Assistant Secretary for Health Services. After the assistant secretary has endorsed the medical furlough based on all pertinent medical information and the above criteria, he shall forward the recommendation to the approving authority for review of security issues and for final determination. If approved, a plan of community supervision shall be developed by the classification specialist and approved by the approving authority of the inmate’s facility, and arrangements shall be made for monitoring the inmate’s progress.
(c) The plan of community supervision shall include supervision contact by probation and parole services while the inmate is on furlough status. The furloughing facility shall contact probation and parole services in the city where the inmate will be residing during the furlough period, and develop community control supervision contact standards. The developed plan will be attached to the furlough request.
(d) through (e) No change.
(f) The approving authority is authorized to terminate a medical furlough at any time during the furlough period for noncompliance with the conditions of the furlough, or changes in the inmate’s medical condition.
(g) Upon the death of the inmate on furlough, staff performing community supervision shall contact the institution from which the inmate was released on furlough. The institution shall be responsible for providing notice of the death, the custody and disposition of the body, the distribution of the certificate of death, and the coroner’s report pursuant to Rule 33-602.112, F.A.C., Inmate Deaths.
(8) Type B Furlough Sponsors. In addition to the criteria outlined in subsection (5) of this rule 33-601.603(5), F.A.C., Furlough Sponsors, the following criteria apply applies to Type B furlough sponsors:
(a) A Type B furlough sponsor shall be a relative, unless a relative is not available to serve as a sponsor or no relative meets fails to meet the criteria to serve as a sponsor, then a non-relative furlough sponsor may be utilized.
(b) The inmate who requests an applicant to become a type B furlough sponsor shall submit the appropriate request to his assigned center officer. The assigned center officer shall obtain an FCIC/NCIC criminal history background inquiry on the prospective furlough sponsor. The Correctional Officer Major correctional officer major of the community correctional center shall review the request and approve or disapprove the request based on criteria provided in subsection (5) of this rule 33-601.603(5), F.A.C. If disapproved, the correctional officer major shall provide the furlough sponsor applicant written notification of the decision and reasons why, a copy of which shall be included in the inmate’s record.
(c) through (d) No change.
(9) Type B Furloughs.
(a) through (b) No change.
(c) Type B furloughs aid in the rehabilitation of the inmate, and are granted for family visitation, routine medical or dental appointments, community volunteer projects, employment interviews, mental health counseling, haircut appointments, church services, or substance abuse treatment meetings.
(d) Restrictions on the number of type B furloughs., and time and distance limitations are as follows:
1. through 3. No change.
4. Except as noted in subparagraph (9)(d)3. of this rule 33-601.603(9)(d)3., F.A.C., a type B furlough for purposes other than family visitation shall not exceed three hours. For family visitation an inmate shall not be granted more than a maximum of eight daylight hours. Factors that which will be considered in determining the maximum number of hours granted an inmate for a family visitation furlough shall include the inmate’s need for furlough, degree of participation in programs, adjustment to the facility, and willingness to abide by the furlough conditions.
(e) Inmates who demonstrate satisfactory facility adjustment and program participation, meet all eligibility criteria, and have either served 5 calendar years or have completed one third of the sentence to be served, which ever is less, shall be eligible for consideration for a furlough for family visitation purposes. “Sentence to be served” is interpreted as being from the imposed date of sentence to the earliest release date. The following special conditions apply to family visitation furloughs:
1. The furlough must occur in a residential type facility that which has telephone access. Hotel or motel rooms will suffice if a residential type facility is not available given the particular circumstances of the visitation;
2. through 3. No change.
(f) The approving authority for community correctional centers shall have the authority to approve participation in the type B furlough family visitation program for all inmates assigned to community correctional centers, contract work release, and contract community substance abuse treatment facilities. Once approval has been granted, the Correctional Officer Major or the program director at contract facilities shall have the authority to approve the taking of type B family furlough privileges on a case by case basis, while ensuring that the criteria requirements and considerations outlined in this rule are met.
(g) An inmate granted type B furlough privileges must:
1. Agree to the conditions as outlined in Form DC6-179, Type B Furlough Request Agreement. Form DC6-179 is incorporated by reference in subsection (11) of this rule;
2. Be accompanied throughout the furlough period by the approved furlough sponsor; and
3. Adhere to the following procedures:
a. Inmates who reside in community correctional centers, contract work release facilities, or a community contract substance abuse treatment facility, upon approval by the Correctional Officer Major or program director, shall be permitted to leave the center on a sign-out basis not requiring a type B family visitation furlough approval for the following activities: routine medical, mental health, or dental appointments; community volunteer projects; employment interviews; haircuts; church services; substance abuse counseling; or seeking suitable residence.
b. All inmates to whom a type B furlough privilege has been granted must be signed out of and into the facility by an officer prior to departure from and upon their return from the furlough activity utilizing Form DC6-180, Sign-Out Sheet for Community Activity or Furlough.
c. No change.
(h) An inmate who is on a type B furlough for any activity except family visitation or church services shall call the community correctional center, contract work release facility, or community Tier IV drug treatment center in which the inmate resides at least once per hour during the furlough period. In the event more than one inmate is attending a function with a particular sponsor, that sponsor, rather than the inmate, is authorized to make the required call at least once per hour during the furlough period.
(i) No change.
(10) Removal From the Type B Furlough Program.
(a) The approving authority of a community correctional centers shall remove an inmate from the furlough program if:
1. The approving authority, following placement of the inmate in the type B furlough program, receives any information concerning the inmate that which would adversely impact the safety and security of the community;
2. The inmate engages in any conduct that which causes the approving authority to believe that the inmate will not honor the trust bestowed upon him them;
3. The approving authority determines that it is not in the best interest of the safety and security of the community, the department, or the inmate to continue the inmate in the type B furlough program.
(b) No change.
(11) Forms. The following forms are hereby incorporated by reference.
(a) No change.
(b) DC6-179, “Type B Furlough Request Agreement”, effective ________ 12-8-97.
(c) No change.
(d) DC6-180, “Sign-Out Sheet for Community Activity or Furlough” “Community Correctional Sign Out Sheet for Community Activities”, effective ________ 12-8-97.
Rulemaking Specific Authority 945.091 FS. Law Implemented 945.091 FS. History–New 12-8-97, Amended 4-13-98, 10-20-98, Formerly 33-9.024, Amended 10-9-07, 12-25-08, ________.