907.043 Pretrial release; citizens’ right to know. - Florida Statutes

907.043 Pretrial release; citizens’ right to know.

   (1) This section may be cited as the “Citizens’ Right-to-Know Act.”

   (2) As used in this section, the term:

   (a) “Nonsecured release” means the release of a defendant from pretrial custody when no secured surety or cash bond is required as a condition of the release.

   (b) “Pretrial release program” means an entity, public or private, that conducts investigations of pretrial detainees, makes pretrial release recommendations to a court, and electronically monitors and supervises pretrial defendants. However, the term “pretrial release program” shall not apply to the Department of Corrections.

   (c) “Register” means a public record prepared by a pretrial release program which furnishes specified data and is readily available to the public at the office of the clerk of the circuit court.

   (d) “Secured release” means the release of a defendant from pretrial custody with a financial guarantee, such as cash or a surety bond, required as a condition of the release.

   (3)(a) Each pretrial release program must prepare a register displaying information that is relevant to the defendants released through such a program. A copy of the register must be located at the office of the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the program is located and must be readily accessible to the public.

   (b) The register must be updated weekly and display accurate data regarding the following information:

   1. The name, location, and funding source of the pretrial release program.

   2. The number of defendants assessed and interviewed for pretrial release.

   3. The number of indigent defendants assessed and interviewed for pretrial release.

   4. The names and number of defendants accepted into the pretrial release program.

   5. The names and number of indigent defendants accepted into the pretrial release program.

   6. The charges filed against and the case numbers of defendants accepted into the pretrial release program.

   7. The nature of any prior criminal conviction of a defendant accepted into the pretrial release program.

   8. The court appearances required of defendants accepted into the pretrial release program.

   9. The date of each defendant’s failure to appear for a scheduled court appearance.

   10. The number of warrants, if any, which have been issued for a defendant’s arrest for failing to appear at a scheduled court appearance.

   11. The number and type of program noncompliance infractions committed by a defendant in the pretrial release program and whether the pretrial release program recommended that the court revoke the defendant’s release.

   (4)(a) No later than March 31 of every year, each pretrial release program must submit an annual report for the previous calendar year to the governing body and to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the pretrial release program is located. The annual report must be readily accessible to the public.

   (b) The annual report must contain, but need not be limited to:

   1. The name, location, and funding sources of the pretrial release program, including the amount of public funds, if any, received by the pretrial release program.

   2. The operating and capital budget of each pretrial release program receiving public funds.

   3.a. The percentage of the pretrial release program’s total budget representing receipt of public funds.

   b. The percentage of the total budget which is allocated to assisting defendants obtain release through a nonpublicly funded program.

   c. The amount of fees paid by defendants to the pretrial release program.

   4. The number of persons employed by the pretrial release program.

   5. The number of defendants assessed and interviewed for pretrial release.

   6. The number of defendants recommended for pretrial release.

   7. The number of defendants for whom the pretrial release program recommended against nonsecured release.

   8. The number of defendants granted nonsecured release after the pretrial release program recommended nonsecured release.

   9. The number of defendants assessed and interviewed for pretrial release who were declared indigent by the court.

   10. The name and case number of each person granted nonsecured release who:

   a. Failed to attend a scheduled court appearance.

   b. Was issued a warrant for failing to appear.

   c. Was arrested for any offense while on release through the pretrial release program.

   11. Any additional information deemed necessary by the governing body to assess the performance and cost efficiency of the pretrial release program.

History. s. 1, ch. 2008-224.