Examples Of Eroding Standards

Under the old FAC 33-8 system, jails were mandated to be inspected every six (6) months. Under current FMJ standards, jails are only inspected once a year.

Also, under the old FAC 33-8 system, all jail deaths, to include suspected suicides were independently investigated by the state prison inspector / Florida Department of Corrections. Under the current system, in many counties, the sheriff department is responsible for conducting these death investigations.

However, the major difference between the FAC and FMJS oversight process, is that participation in the FAC was mandated by Florida State Statute, while participation in the FMJS is TOTALLY voluntary. Further, if a violation is detected, the FMJS inspector has no enforcement powers.

In a recent email from Mr. Isaiah Dennard of the Florida Sheriff's Association to VolusiaExposed (see above / right of web page), he appears to verify the enforcement short comings of the FMJS oversight process. Mr. Ned Hefnar's article, "The History of Standards Development in Florida Jails" refers to this (lack of enforcement) as the "major difference between" the FAC 33-8 and FMJS processes.

Interestingly, about the same time CBS was filming the above video report, the Brevard County jail was opening their new mental health wing, the very same wing (know as the "bubble") where Ms. Roman was incarcerated.

Maybe the question should be, that since there are no enforcement provisions within FMJS, can there actually be any violations of FMJS?

But let's assume that since there are written standards, that failure to follow those standards would be a perceived violation.

However, it would be extremely unlikely, that an agency (jail) that had several non compliance issues with FMJS, would be able to successfully maintain their accredited status with FCAC.

FCAC is sponsored by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement - such is supported by the FCAC sharing FDLE's Tallahassee P.O. Box of 1489 - see bottom of screen on the FCAC web page.

VolusiaExposed intends on further investigating whether there are FCAC accredited jails, that are seriously out of compliance with FCAC and FMJS standards.

Our Final Thoughts On Why Our Jails And The Police Need
To Be Governed By Enforceable Regulations
The Further Erosion Of The Public's Trust


We believe that the Florida jail oversight system must obtain better credibility than that of the current FMJS system. Why is it so important? Well as explained above, lives are entrusted to this oversight system. Further, we suspect that if the jail oversight system is perceived to have little to no credibility, this lack of confidence will start to erode the veracity of other law enforcement systems.

If a law enforcement agency claims to be in compliance with FMJS, a system of standards that has no non-compliance ramifications - then how much confidence can the public assign to that very same agency's internal affairs section? Are allegations of officer misconduct handled in the same fashion as compliance with FMJS standards? Are internal affairs policies even really followed, are there any real ramifications for officer misconduct?

The Slippery Slope Of Having Non-Enforceable Police Standards


Heck, they're only jail inmates - who really cares if there are really enforceable jail regulations - right?

WRONG !! - It is a very dangerous precedent to place our law enforcement officers under non enforceable mandates, like the Florida Model Jail Standards.

Why is it wrong - well because the police historically have a problem staying within guidelines. If we give them a set of guidelines, but never require enforcement of those guidelines (like FMJS), then we invite our police to over reach in other areas.

How comfortable would we be if our local law enforcement officers starting treating the mandates of the U.S. Bill Of Rights, like the alleged mandates of the FMJS?

Imagine that each time an inmate is not given a bunk to sleep on (a violation of FMJS), your local police officer made a warrantless search of your home (a violation of your 4th Amendment). Impossible? Well you only have to look above to find examples in both the Ms. Roman audio and the CBS video report of inmates being denied a bunk to sleep on, and you need only to review the below video for a quick example of the police violating the 4th Amendment of citizens walking the streets of Philadelphia.



When the Nazis came for the communists, I said nothing; I was, of course, no communist.
When they locked up the Social Democrats, I said nothing; I was, of course, no Social Democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I said nothing; I was, of course, no trade unionist.
When they came for me, there was no one left who could protest. --- Martin Niemoller


And Here We Are Sitting In The Corner, Losing Our Religion (faith in the system)