Fla. Stat. § 944.605 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 944 / Section 944.605
944.605 Inmate release; notification; identification card.
Status: in_force

(1) Within 6 months before the release of an inmate from the custody of the Department of Corrections or a contractor-operated correctional facility by expiration of sentence under s. 944.275, any release program provided by law, or parole under chapter 947, or as soon as possible if the offender is released earlier than anticipated, notification of such anticipated release date shall be made known by the Department of Corrections to the chief judge of the circuit in which the offender was sentenced, the appropriate state attorney, the original arresting law enforcement agency, the Department of Law Enforcement, and the sheriff as chief law enforcement officer of the county in which the inmate plans to reside. In addition, unless otherwise requested by the victim, the victim’s parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, the lawful representative of the victim or of the victim’s parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, the victim’s next of kin in the case of a homicide, the state attorney or the Department of Corrections, whichever is appropriate, shall notify such person within 6 months before the inmate’s release, or as soon as possible if the offender is released earlier than anticipated, when the name and address of such victim, or the name and address of the parent, guardian, next of kin, or lawful representative of the victim has been furnished to the agency. The state attorney shall provide the latest address documented for the victim, or for the victim’s parent, guardian, next of kin, or lawful representative, as applicable, to the sheriff with the other documents required by law for the delivery of inmates to those agencies for service of sentence. Upon request, within 30 days after an inmate is approved for community work release, the state attorney, the victim, the victim’s parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, the victim’s next of kin in the case of a homicide, or the lawful representative of the victim or of the victim’s parent or guardian if the victim is a minor shall be notified that the inmate has been approved for community work release. This section does not imply any repeal or modification of any provision of law relating to notification of victims.

(2) Within 60 days before the anticipated release of an inmate under subsection (1), a digitized photograph of the inmate to be released shall be made by the Department of Corrections or a contractor-operated correctional facility, whichever has custody of the inmate. If a contractor-operated correctional facility makes the digitized photograph, this photograph shall be provided to the Department of Corrections. Additionally, the digitized photograph, whether made by the Department of Corrections or a contractor-operated correctional facility, shall be placed in the inmate’s file. The Department of Corrections shall make the digitized photograph available electronically to the Department of Law Enforcement as soon as the digitized photograph is in the department’s database and must be in a format that is compatible with the requirements of the Florida Crime Information Center. The department shall provide a copy of the digitized photograph to a local law enforcement agency upon request.

(3)(a) If an inmate is to be released after having served one or more sentences for a conviction of robbery, sexual battery, home-invasion robbery, or carjacking, or an inmate to be released has a prior conviction for robbery, sexual battery, home-invasion robbery, or carjacking or similar offense, in this state or in another jurisdiction, and if such prior conviction information is contained in department records, the department shall release to the sheriff of the county in which the inmate plans to reside, and, if the inmate plans to reside within a municipality, to the chief of police of that municipality, the following information, which must include, but need not be limited to: 1. Name. 2. Social security number. 3. Date of birth. 4. Race. 5. Sex. 6. Height. 7. Weight. 8. Hair and eye color. 9. Tattoos or other identifying marks. 10. Fingerprints. 11. A digitized photograph as provided in subsection (2). The department shall release the information specified in this paragraph within 6 months prior to the discharge of the inmate from the custody of the department. (b) The department may electronically submit the information listed in paragraph (a) to the sheriff of the county in which the inmate plans to reside, and, if the inmate plans to reside within a municipality, to the chief of police of that municipality.

(4) An inmate who refuses to submit to the taking of a digitized photograph commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(5) The department shall, at least 10 days before the anticipated date of release on work release of an inmate, notify in writing the county law enforcement agency in the county in this state in which the inmate is scheduled to be released.

(6) Upon request of the victim, the personal representative of the victim, or the state attorney, the department shall notify the requesting person when an inmate has been approved for community work release within 30 days after the date of approval.

(7)(a) The department, working in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, shall provide every Florida-born inmate with a certified copy of his or her birth certificate and a state identification card before the inmate’s release upon expiration of his or her sentence. A replacement driver license shall be provided in lieu of a state identification card when an inmate has a valid state driver license issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles which was lost, stolen, or destroyed. (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to inmates who: 1. The department determines have a valid driver license or state identification card, except that the department shall provide these inmates with a replacement state identification card or replacement driver license, if necessary. 2. Have an active detainer, unless the department determines that cancellation of the detainer is likely or that the incarceration for which the detainer was issued will be less than 12 months in duration. 3. Are released due to an emergency release or a conditional medical release under s. 947.149. 4. Are not in the physical custody of the department at or within 180 days before release. 5. Are subject to sex offender residency restrictions, and who, upon release under such restrictions, do not have a qualifying address. (c) The department shall assist each inmate in applying for and obtaining a social security card before release if the inmate needs a social security card. (d) The department, for purposes of assisting the inmate in obtaining a birth certificate, shall submit to the Department of Health on all Florida-born inmates in its custody, the department’s inmate photo or digitized photo, and as provided by the inmate his or her date of birth, full name at birth and any subsequent legal name changes, city or county of birth, mother’s full name including her maiden surname, and father’s full name. (e) For inmates born outside of this state, the department shall assist the inmate in completing the necessary forms or applications to obtain a social security card, driver license, or state identification card. The department shall also provide the inmate with the location and address of the appropriate licensing authority the inmate will need to obtain a valid identification card in proximity to the inmate’s release address. (f) The department shall, as part of its annual report, provide a report that identifies the number of inmates released with and without identification cards, identifies any impediments in the implementation of this subsection, and provides recommendations to improve obtaining release documents and identification cards for all inmates.

History: s. 3, ch. 85-107; s. 9, ch. 88-96; s. 54, ch. 88-122; s. 1, ch. 91-65; s. 22, ch. 91-225; s. 2, ch. 92-76; s. 35, ch. 96-312; s. 10, ch. 97-299; s. 9, ch. 98-81; s. 3, ch. 2001-124; s. 1, ch. 2001-209; s. 9, ch. 2010-64; s. 4, ch. 2014-193; s. 22, ch. 2024-84.