Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Mike Crews today announced unprecedented steps to ensure safer practices and policies are in place. In the coming weeks, the Association of State Corrections Administrators (ASCA) will review the Department’s policies, rules and procedures related to use of force. The ASCA will provide a full independent audit of the Department’s policies and procedures through site visits, inspections and evaluations on use of force methods. The ASCA will also identify the Department’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A report detailing the ASCA findings will be available following the audit. The ASCA is a nationally recognized organization with qualified experts in the corrections profession.
Secretary Crews said, “I look forward to having an independent party review our policies to ensure the Department is taking every step possible to improve our facilities, educate our staff and protect our inmates. In the past few months, I have met personally with staff at each and every one of our 49 facilities and have communicated with clarity that there is no tolerance of the excessive use of force, inmate abuse, inappropriate behavior, or criminal activity by our staff. We should be held to the highest standards of professionalism. An agency-wide review of policies and procedures by the ASCA will help identify any remaining or connected issues and reinforce our zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and commitment to continued improvement for the Department.”
This past summer, Secretary Crews assessed operations, met with leadership and officers, and took action on activities that run counter to the Department’s mission of maintaining a secure environment for officers and inmates. Secretary Crews completed his statewide tour of all DOC institutions on September 23, 2014.