Florida Administrative Code › 33 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS › 33 - Departmental › Chapter 33-603 - SENTENCE STRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION › Section 33-603.201 - Transfer of Inmates

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) For the
				purposes of this rule "transfer" shall mean the reassignment and movement of
				inmates from one institutional facility to another. "Transfer" does not include
				such movement as may be required for the normal operations of the Department
				such as outside trips sponsored by religious, Jaycee and Alcoholics Anonymous
				groups and trips by work and maintenance crews. In emergency situations medical
				records will be transferred with the inmate except that in emergencies such as
				the evacuation of a facility, the medical records will be boxed together with
				all records going to one location and forwarded to the receiving institution(s)
				with the inmates or as soon as possible. In such emergencies, individual
				packaging of medical records is waived. Local procedures shall be established
				to ensure that appropriate facility staff have access to the institutional
				inmate record during weekends, holidays, and after normal business hours. Such
				procedures shall ensure that the security of the record is not compromised and
				that accountability for the record is maintained in the event that access is
				required other than during normal working hours. Following an emergency
				transfer, all other sub-files, such as the visiting record, educational record,
				property record, etc., shall be forwarded by the sending facility within 72
				hours following the transfer.
(2)
				In order to ensure coordination in the operation of the transfer system, ensure
				the safety of the public, employees and inmates and to maintain proper security
				practices, a qualified officer must be in charge of each transfer. This rule
				shall also apply to work release centers except when inmate drivers are
				involved.
(3) All Department
				employees transferring inmates shall be certified as Correctional Officers.
				Transfer officers must also comply with the specific requirements outlined in
				chapter 316, F.S.
(4) The transfer
				officer shall be responsible for maintaining schedules approved by the Bureau
				of Security Operations, Population Management, supervising and instructing
				additional personnel assigned, guarding inmates, maintaining order and
				discipline and ensuring the secure and safe custody of inmates being
				transferred.
(5) The transfer
				vehicle must be maintained in accordance with the guidelines set forth in
				chapter 316, F.S., and be properly fueled, serviced and determined to be
				mechanically safe to transfer inmates. The vehicle shall be equipped with radio
				communication.
(6) The transfer
				officer shall ensure that the transfer orders, commitment papers or other
				documents authorizing transfers are in order prior to the boarding of inmates.
				Each inmate must be properly identified by the transfer officer prior to
				assuming or relinquishing supervision and control of the inmate. The transfer
				officer shall verify the identity of law enforcement agencies and their
				representatives prior to releasing an inmate into their custody.
(7) The transfer officer shall ensure that
				all inmates are searched prior to boarding the transfer vehicle. Searches shall
				be conducted by or under the direct supervision of the transfer officer when
				assistance is obtained form the institution.
(8) In addition, if there is any indication
				that an inmate who is to be transferred is not in good physical or mental
				condition, the transfer officer shall secure the advice of the institution
				physician before beginning the trip. Transfer of an inmate who is ill or
				injured shall be undertaken based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer on
				duty. The Chief Health Officer shall determine if medical staff are to
				accompany the inmate while being transferred. If he does decide that medical
				staff need to accompany the inmate, he must assign this staff.
(9) In transferring any death row, close
				management, or disciplinary confinement inmate, or any inmate determined by the
				Chief of Security to be a high-risk inmate, the following shall be required:
(a) Communication between the two vehicles is
				essential and is required between both vehicles and the home station.
(b) Specific written instructions will be
				provided from the transportation section of the Bureau of Security Operations,
				Population Management.