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Lawmakers concerned about lack of funding for Fla. probationer supervision

Probation officers are paying out of pocket for their own weapons and sharing one state vehicle to check on probationers

By C1 Staff

TAMPA BAY — New findings released earlier this week have lawmakers worried about how little the Florida Department of Corrections is spending on supervision for inmates after they’ve been released back into the community.

10 News reports that the DOC doesn’t purchase weapons for probation officers, and often 10 to 20 officers must share a single state vehicle to check on probationers. The one vehicle has upwards of 200,000 miles logged.

Instead, officers often conduct home visits with their personal vehicles, with reimbursements seldom offered.

“This is the first story I’ve heard on the probation,” said State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a member of the Senate Justice Committee. “Shockingly, it doesn’t surprise me, but it’s deeply concerning. And I think it’s an area we’re going to have to renew our focus on.”

Only half of the state’s probation officers carry a weapon, and most say they had to purchase their firearm themselves. Officers are also not supplied with radios or smart phones; instead they are only given flip-phones.

Though Florida probation officers are some of the most qualified LEOs in the state, requiring a four-year degree, their pay lags behind most of their counterparts and leads to a high turnover rate.

“I feel like there has to be some [budget] increase for the safety of these folks that are working and living around these felons,” said Sen. Greg Evers, the chair of the Senate Budget Committee.

The state has recently been under fire for prison problems, but those issues in focus did not extend to probation. Senators believe there is still some time in the 2015 legislative session to address the issues.