The Bureau of State Investigations is responsible for conducting criminal, administrative and internal affairs investigations.

Investigations

When completed, criminal investigations are referred to the appropriate State Attorney's Office for prosecution. Administrative and internal affairs investigations are referred to management for appropriate follow-up action.

During the 2009-10 fiscal year, 39,331 incidents were reported to the Inspector General's Office. Those incidents were classified in the following categories:

Investigation Highlights

As illustrated by the "Classification of Incident" chart above, the majority of reported incidents involved:

• Complaints against staff, which include improper conduct, alleged excessive force, and staff/offender relationships. (30%)
• Crimes vs. persons (violent), which include battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on another inmate, sexual battery, and possession of a weapon. (17%)
• Possession/recovery of contraband. (14%)
• Inmate injuries or deaths, including suicide, suicide attempts, homicides, natural deaths, accidental deaths and injuries. (8%)

Classification of Incident	Number
Complaints Against Staff	11,768
Recovery/Possession of Contraband	5,603
Employee Arrests	354
Escape / Attempted Escape	322
Inmate Injuries or Death	3,269
Crimes vs. Persons -Property (Non-Violent)	665
Crimes vs. Persons (Violent)	6,806
Other	10,544
Total	39,331

Of these 39,331 incidents, 3,928 official investigations were assigned as indicated by the chart below.

Field Office	Senior Inspectors	Institutional Inspectors	Total
Region I	202	361	563
Region II	577	842	1,419
Region III	278	323	601
Region IV	601	744	1,345
TOTAL	1,658	2,270	3,928

The Special Operations Section coordinates the agency's inmate drug testing program, contraband interdiction/narcotic canine unit, intelligence unit, "Prison Tips" hotline, and serves as the final reviewing authority for all "use-of-force" incidents.

Use of Force Unit

Established in 1999, the Use of Force Unit is charged with reviewing all incidents of physical force at state correctional facilities to ensure compliance with established rules, procedures and statutes.

To accomplish this mission, the unit independently reviews and evaluates all force incident reports, associated documents and videotapes as required from each correctional facility or office. Evidence indicating possible procedural violations, inmate abuse, excessive/ improper/ unauthorized force, or battery by staff is referred to the Bureau of State Investigations and an internal investigation is conducted.

The use-of-force database has been enhanced to automatically notify management of employee involvement in multiple use-of-force incidents. Uses-of-force are classified as major incidents whenever weapons, the chemical agent CS or Electronic Restraint Devices are used; when force is used in a cell extraction; or when outside medical treatment is required for employees or inmates as a result of the use of force. Other physical contact with inmates to include use of the chemical agent OC, is classified as minor. This chart shows all incidents reported to the Use of Force Unit in FY2009-10:

Classification	Reason Force Was Used	Number
27A	Self Defense	768
27B	Escape/Recapture	2
27C	Prevent Escape During Transport	1
27D	Prevent Property Damage	25
27E	Quell a Disturbance	1,862
27F	Physical Resistance to a Lawful Command	2,094
27G	Prevent Suicide	685
27H	Restrain Inmate for Medical Treatment	53
27I	Cell Extraction	244
27J	Mental Health Restraint	434
27K	Probation & Parole Handcuffing	0
27O	Other	43
TOTAL		6,212

Corrections Intelligence Unit

The Corrections Intelligence Unit collects, analyzes, and disseminates data and investigative information in support of the Bureau of State Investigations and institutional security staff. It also researches data related to Homeland Security issues and works closely with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. It has generated multiple intelligence reports that were shared at the national level, including "Classified" level reporting. Two unit members are FDLE-certified crime analysts.

The Unit represents the Department of Corrections at the Florida FUSION Center, a statewide collaborative intelligence project focused on Homeland Security. It also serves as primary point of contact for the Corrections Intelligence Initiative, a joint FBI project designed to deter radicalization of prison inmates and to detect domestic security threats among the prison population.

Contraband Interdiction/Narcotic Canine Unit

Contraband Interdiction provides a safer environment for employees, inmates and visitors at state correctional facilities by detecting and discouraging the introduction of contraband including weapons, cell phones and narcotics. Interdiction staff conducts unannounced contraband searches with assistance from certified Narcotic Canine Teams. During the often two-day-long interdictions, employees, visitors, volunteers, inmates, vehicles and facility grounds are searched for contraband. Individuals also are subject to inspection using a chemical detection device which employs advanced "Ion Mobility Spectrometry" technology to detect traces of illegal drugs. Random interdiction operations and canine sweeps are conducted at all agency facilities.

Earlier this year, the Department doubled the number of staff and canines used to combat illegal drug use in prisons. The Inspector General's office now operates 20 fulltime canine teams with specially equipped vehicles, located strategically around the state. The teams participate in interdiction and search operations at prisons and other facilities statewide. The canine teams also work closely with institutional inspectors and provide investigative support.

The following chart summarizes arrests and seizures generated by the Inspector General's canine teams and interdiction operations during Fiscal Year 2009-10.

Interdiction/Canine Arrests/Seizures	FY 09-10
Arrests:
Employees	31
Visitors	41
Inmates	6
Contraband Seized:
Alcohol (gallons)
commercial	16
homemade	13
Drugs (grams)
marijuana	4,160
cocaine	637
other	10
other	262
Weapons/Cell Phones/Money
firearms (in vehicles on state property)	25
ammunition (rounds, in vehicles)	1,321
knives/sharps (entering or inside institution)	34
cell phones (entering or inside institution)	194
cash (excessive or contraband)	$16,725
Ionscans:
employees	1,938
visitors	2,327
inmates	586
total scans conducted	4,851

Inmate Drug Testing Program

The Inspector General's Inmate Drug Testing Unit manages inmate selection, testing procedures, and results analysis for almost 120,000 inmate drug tests conducted annually. The unit also orders testing supplies and ensures that officers who conduct the tests are properly trained and certified. The tests play a key role in detecting and deterring the use of illegal drugs in prison. The results analysis helps guide effective deployment of other anti-drug resources such as IG contraband interdiction and narcotic canine teams. This chart summarizes drug test results for Fiscal Year 2009-10:

Prison Tips

The Bureau oversees the prison "TIPS" line, which received over 6,500 calls during the last fiscal year. Phone calls made to the "TIPS" line are reviewed daily and the information provided is used to collect criminal intelligence on unsolved or ongoing criminal activity, both inside and outside of the Department. Inmates, probationers or any other callers who may have knowledge of this type of activity can use "TIPS" as an anonymous method to provide this information.

The "TIPS" line can be accessed from inmate phones within all department facilities, or by a toll-free number
(1-866-246-4412) from phones outside the facilities. Calls are monitored by the Office of the Inspector General. Information provided by callers is reviewed and forwarded to appropriate Department staff or the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the reported activity.

Callers have the option of establishing a voice mailbox, accessed by a unique pass code, to receive feedback from the Inspector General's Office on the status of the information they provide. This also provides a secure mechanism for communicating with the individual if they become eligible for a cash reward offered by law enforcement.