The Florida Senate

945.10  Confidential information.--

(1)  Except as otherwise provided by law or in this section, the following records and information of the Department of Corrections are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution:

(a)  Mental health, medical, or substance abuse records of an inmate or an offender.

(b)  Preplea, pretrial intervention, and presentence or postsentence investigative records, except as provided in s. 960.001(1)(g).

(c)  Information regarding a person in the federal witness protection program.

(d)  Parole Commission records which are confidential or exempt from public disclosure by law.

(e)  Information which if released would jeopardize a person's safety.

(f)  Information concerning a victim's statement and identity.

(g)  The identity of an executioner, or a person administering a lethal injection pursuant to s. 922.105.

(h)  Records that are otherwise confidential or exempt from public disclosure by law.

(2)  The records and information specified in paragraphs (1)(b)-(h) may be released as follows unless expressly prohibited by federal law:

(a)  Information specified in paragraphs (1)(b), (d), and (f) to the Office of the Governor, the Legislature, the Parole Commission, the Department of Children and Family Services, a private correctional facility or program that operates under a contract, the Department of Legal Affairs, a state attorney, the court, or a law enforcement agency. A request for records or information pursuant to this paragraph need not be in writing.

(b)  Information specified in paragraphs (1)(c), (e), and (h) to the Office of the Governor, the Legislature, the Parole Commission, the Department of Children and Family Services, a private correctional facility or program that operates under contract, the Department of Legal Affairs, a state attorney, the court, or a law enforcement agency. A request for records or information pursuant to this paragraph must be in writing and a statement provided demonstrating a need for the records or information.

(c)  Information specified in paragraph (1)(b) to an attorney representing an inmate under sentence of death, except those portions of the records containing a victim's statement or address, or the statement or address of a relative of the victim. A request for records of information pursuant to this paragraph must be in writing and a statement provided demonstrating a need for the records or information.

(d)  Information specified in paragraph (1)(b) to a public defender representing a defendant, except those portions of the records containing a victim's statement or address, or the statement or address of a relative of the victim. A request for records or information pursuant to this paragraph need not be in writing.

(e)  Information specified in paragraph (1)(b) to state or local governmental agencies. A request for records or information pursuant to this paragraph must be in writing and a statement provided demonstrating a need for the records or information.

(f)  Information specified in paragraph (1)(b) to a person conducting legitimate research. A request for records and information pursuant to this paragraph must be in writing, the person requesting the records or information must sign a confidentiality agreement, and the department must approve the request in writing.

Records and information released under this subsection remain confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution when held by the receiving person or entity.

(3)  Due to substantial concerns regarding institutional security and unreasonable and excessive demands on personnel and resources if an inmate or an offender has unlimited or routine access to records of the Department of Corrections, an inmate or an offender who is under the jurisdiction of the department may not have unrestricted access to the department's records or to information contained in the department's records. However, except as to another inmate's or offender's records, the department may permit limited access to its records if an inmate or an offender makes a written request and demonstrates an exceptional need for information contained in the department's records and the information is otherwise unavailable. Exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to:

(a)  The inmate or offender requests documentation to resolve a conflict between the inmate's court documentation and the commitment papers or court orders received by the department regarding the inmate or offender.

(b)  The inmate's or offender's release is forthcoming and a prospective employer requests, in writing, documentation of the inmate's or offender's work performance.

(c)  The inmate or offender needs information concerning the amount of victim restitution paid during the inmate's or offender's incarceration.

(d)  The requested records contain information required to process an application or claim by the inmate or offender with the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor and Employment Security, or any other similar application or claim with a state agency or federal agency.

(e)  The inmate or offender wishes to obtain the current address of a relative whose address is in the department's records and the relative has not indicated a desire not to be contacted by the inmate or offender.

(f)  Other similar circumstances that do not present a threat to the security, order, or rehabilitative objectives of the correctional system or to any person's safety.

(4)  The Department of Corrections shall adopt rules to prevent disclosure of confidential records or information to unauthorized persons.

(5)  The Department of Corrections and the Parole Commission shall mutually cooperate with respect to maintaining the confidentiality of records that are exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.

History.--s. 10, ch. 57-213; s. 18, ch. 61-530; s. 1, ch. 65-453; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 24, ch. 74-112; s. 255, ch. 77-104; s. 87, ch. 79-3; s. 1, ch. 88-118; s. 56, ch. 88-122; s. 1, ch. 94-83; s. 448, ch. 96-406; s. 2, ch. 98-4; s. 314, ch. 99-8; s. 1, ch. 99-263.