Accreditation of state and local law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, public agency offices of inspectors general, and certain pretrial diversion programs; intent.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, public agency offices of inspectors general, and those agencies offering pretrial diversion programs within offices of the state attorneys, county government, or sheriff’s offices in the state be upgraded and strengthened through the adoption of meaningful standards of operation for those agencies and their functions.

(2) It is the further intent of the Legislature that these agencies voluntarily adopt standards designed to promote enhanced professionalism:

(a) For law enforcement, to maximize the capability of law enforcement agencies to enforce the law and prevent and control criminal activities.

(b) For correctional facilities, to maintain best practices for the care, custody, and control of inmates.

(c) Within public agency offices of inspector general, to promote more effective scrutiny of public agency operations and greater accountability of those serving in those agencies.

(d) In the operation and management of pretrial diversion programs offered by and through the state attorney’s offices, county government, or sheriff’s offices.

(3) The Legislature also intends to encourage the continuation of a voluntary state accreditation program to facilitate the enhanced professionalism identified in subsection (2). Other than the staff support by the department as authorized in subsection (5), the accreditation program must be independent of any law enforcement agency, the Department of Corrections, the Florida Sheriffs Association, or the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

(4) The law enforcement accreditation program must address, at a minimum, the following aspects of law enforcement:

(a) Vehicle pursuits.

(b) Seizure and forfeiture of contraband articles.

(c) Recording and processing citizens’ complaints.

(d) Use of force.

(e) Traffic stops.

(f) Handling natural and manmade disasters.

(g) Special operations.

(h) Prisoner transfer.

(i) Collection and preservation of evidence.

(j) Recruitment and selection.

(k) Officer training.

(l) Performance evaluations.

(m) Law enforcement disciplinary procedures and rights.

(n) Use of criminal investigative funds.

(o) Access to and use of personal identification information, as defined in s. 817.568(1)(f), contained in electronic databases.

(5) Subject to available funding, the department shall employ and assign adequate support staff to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc., and the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc., in support of the accreditation programs established in this section.

(6) Accreditation standards related to law enforcement and inspectors general used by the accreditation programs established in this section shall be determined by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. Accreditation standards related to corrections functions and pretrial diversion programs shall be determined by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc.