33-103.004. Inmate Grievances - Staff and Inmate Participation

(1) Inmate and employee participation in the grievance process will take the form of solicitation of written comments by inmates and employees on selected formal inmate grievances that staff determine will significantly impact the inmate population and which challenge general procedures and practices prior to the initial adjudication of the grievance. Each institution shall within 5 calendar days of receipt, post copies of this type of formal grievance on inmate and employee bulletin boards, circulate among all inmates in all disciplinary, administrative, and close management areas, including all inmates under sentence of death. These grievances shall be posted and circulated without identification of individual names or identifying facts. Written comments must be received in the office of the reviewing authority as defined in Rule 33-103.002, F.A.C., within 5 calendar days from the date of posting in order to receive consideration. With the exception of submitting written comments, no inmate or employee who appears to be involved in the matter shall participate in any capacity in the final resolution of a grievance.

(2) Inmates and employees have the opportunity to review the effectiveness and credibility of the department’s grievance procedure through the submission of written comments to the reviewing authority as defined in Rule 33-103.002, F.A.C. The reviewing authority shall review and respond to written comments received and institute procedural changes as appropriate. Comments received relating to this rule that are outside the decision making authority of the reviewing authority as defined in Rule 33-103.002, F.A.C., shall be forwarded to the Office of the General Counsel for review and appropriate action. If the comments or complaint focuses on the implementation of the rule at a particular institution, the reviewing authority as defined in Rule 33-103.002, F.A.C., has the authority to make necessary changes in this implementation consistent with the rule. If the comments or complaint deal with the content of the rule itself and the only way a change could be effected would be to change the rule, then it needs to be forwarded to the Office of the General Counsel. The Office of the General Counsel shall review the complaint to see if there appears to be a problem with the rule itself. If changes are necessary, the Office of the General Counsel coordinates the rule promulgation process. The warden shall receive a response and in turn advise the employee or inmate.

(3) Employees shall have access to this rule through rule books maintained in the departments within the institution to which they are assigned.

(4) Inmates shall have access to this rule from the inmate library. Inmates who are not in open population shall be able to access this rule through their housing officer in the confinement unit. Inmates in institutions or facilities without libraries shall have access to this rule from the classification office or security shift supervisor’s office.

Rulemaking Authority 944.09 FS. Law Implemented 944.09 FS. History–New 10-12-89, Amended 1-15-92, 4-10-95, 12-7-97, Formerly 33-29.004, Amended 10-11-00, 2-9-05, 3-25-08, 5-27-12.