The Department of Corrections is responsible for over 192,000 offenders on various types of community supervision. Between February 2004 and December 2005, 1,842 offenders were arrested for committing serious crimes, such as murder, sexual offenses, robbery, child abuse, and aggravated stalking. The department found officer noncompliance in 243 (13%) of those cases, most commonly for failing to make required contacts with the offender.
Several deficiencies hinder the supervision of offenders in community corrections. Program resources are not directed at offenders who pose the highest risk. Administrative tasks hinder officers' ability to supervise offenders, and offender transport creates problems for the department and local law enforcement.
Therefore, the Legislature should remove caseload standards from statutes and require the department to manage caseloads and provide supervision based on an offender's level of risk. The department should monitor all offenders based on their risk to public safety, study options to improve technology, and assess options of transporting offenders who violate supervision to jail.

Electronic Monitoring Expanded to Target Communities' More Dangerous Offenders
Report 07-42 November 2007
Department of Corrections Zero Tolerance Policy Increases Offender Scrutiny But Is Not Based on Risk to Public Safety
Report 07-13 February 2007
Electronic Monitoring Should Be Better Targeted to the Most Dangerous Offenders
Report 05-19 April 2005
Progress Report: More Efficient Use of Probation Officers and Prioritization of Victim Restitution Needed
Report 04-58 August 2004

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.