Secretary's Office

Office of Legislative Planning, Information, and Communications

Kerry Flack
Director
(904) 488-3321
SUNCOM 278-3321

The Office of Legislative Planning, Information and Communications, under the direction of Director Kerry Flack, is responsible for supervision of Legislative Services, Information Services, Correspondence Control, and Video Productions.

Units and Their 1995-96 Accomplishments:

Correspondence Control
Contact: Judith C. Belcher, Correctional Services Administrator, (904) 488-7052, SunCom 278-7052

• Correspondence Control researches and responds to letters and telephone calls regarding offenders, inmates and management of the department on behalf of the Governor, the Secretary, the Inspector General, and the Assistant Secretaries. It maintains an extensive computer logging and tracking system that captures information to minimize errors and duplication and to generate various management reports. This office also assists the Legal office with public records requests.
• In 1995-96, Correspondence Control responded to 6,744 letters; published monthly and semi-annual reports; updated their Correspondence Control Manual and are in the process of updating their logging system.

Information Services
Contact: Eugene Morris, Information Administrator, (904) 488-0420, SunCom 278-0420

• Information Services is responsible for public education relating to the department's operations, mission, and goals and responds to requests for information from state and national media, and the general public. This office provides media training for staff and issues news releases, fact sheets, the internal newsletter and information manual. Information Services also handles inquiries regarding executions, selects media witnesses, and escorts media through the execution process.
• In 1995-96, Information Services conducted media training for more than 250 staff members statewide and provided community outreach and public speakers for more than 100 groups; handled more than 3,000 inquiries from the press and the public; coordinated tours and news coverage for all of our new institutions; and promoted the DC Toy Program which provides toys made by inmates for children during the holidays.

Legislative Services
Contact: Peggy Ball, Legislative Programs Coordinator, (904) 488-0987, SunCom 278-0987

• Legislative Services acts as a clearinghouse for state and federal legislative issues. The office handles contacts with federal and state legislators and legislative committees regarding inquiries about the department. The annual legislative package is prepared in this office and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature for consideration. The office is responsible for monitoring legislative action and distributing information relating to individual legislative proposals. Once new laws are enacted, this office monitors the implementation and makes periodic reports to the Governor and Legislature.
• In 1995-96, Legislative Services successfully passed the realignment bill for the department; coordinated coverage of all committee meetings; tracked over 450 legislative bills; responded to numerous letters and requests from legislators and their constituents; educated elected officials and their staffs about the programs and operations of the Department of Corrections.

Legislative Updates for 1995-96.

Video Production
Contact: Lee Berger, Director of Video Production, (904) 488-0420, SunCom 278-0420

• Video Production provides video production services for public information, staff information, inmate information, staff training, and inmate training. Services include content development, script writing, video production, videotape editing, control room and audio recording booth supervision.
• In 1995-96, Video Production completed three distance learning inservice videotapes; a Security Threat Group videotape; videotape for Community Corrections Conference and satellite broadcast of opening session; completed a staff/inmate weight lifting videotape for the Wellness Program; and broadcast a videotape about domestic violence.