33-208.101. Employee Grooming, Uniform and Clothing Requirements

(1) The following grooming standards shall apply to all Department of Corrections employees, including all non-uniformed employees and contracted employees, while performing official duties:

(a) All employees shall maintain a professional appearance at all times while performing official duties.

(b) All employees shall maintain personal hygiene and shall keep themselves personally neat and clean while on duty.

(c) Clothing will be clean and pressed as is appropriate for the particular garment.

(d) Clothing shall be appropriate for the particular assignment.

(e) Shoes will be clean, presentable, and appropriate for the particular assignment.

(f) Hair will be neat, clean, trimmed and present a groomed appearance. For male employees, hair will not completely cover any part of the ear or go below the ear or extend ½ inch of the top of the collar.

(g) Facial hair for all male staff is authorized as follows:

1. Staff must notify the correctional office chief or, in the case of non-uniformed staff, their immediate supervisor, in writing, of their intention to grow authorized facial hair. Conversely, staff must also notify the correctional officer chief or, in the case of non-uniformed staff, their immediate supervisor, in writing, of their intent to shave previously authorized facial hair;

2. Any authorized facial hair as described below in subparagraph (1)(g)5., shall not exceed 1/2 inch in length;

3. The wearing of authorized facial hair must not interfere with the performance of assigned duties;

4. Staff must obtain a new staff photo ID within one week of the completion of growing or shaving of authorized facial hair;

5. Authorized facial hair is defined as:

a. A moustache that does not protrude below the top of the upper lip or past the corner of the mouth on the side; or

b. A full-face beard; or

c. A goatee with or without a moustache.

6. The growing of variations of the above, i.e., chin curtain, soul patch, handlebar moustache, mutton chops or any other similar styles is not authorized.

(h) Earrings will constitute the only body piercing ornaments allowed. No employee will display while on duty any other jewelry of which any part has been pierced into or through the skin or flesh of any part of the body.

(i) Undergarments shall not be visible.

(j) All employees shall dress in a professional manner appropriate to their positions.

(k) All employees shall dress in appropriate business attire for all court appearances.

(l) Identification cards.

1. Except as provided below, all employees shall wear the department issued ID card in a visible manner that will identify the individual at all times while on duty.

2. For security purposes when interacting with offenders, probation and parole field staff, including administrative and clerical support, are not required to wear the department issued ID card in a visible manner; however, they must be in possession of the department issued ID card for identification purposes while on duty.

(2) In addition to the standards set forth in subsection (1), all institutional and community corrections employees shall comply with the following grooming standards:

(a) Earrings are prohibited for male staff.

(b) If hair is dyed or highlighted, only naturally occurring hair colors will be permitted. For the purpose of this rule, “naturally occurring hair colors” will include: black, brown, blond, auburn, red, grey, and white. Unnatural colors, such as purple, pink, blue, yellow, or green are prohibited.

(3) Uniform requirements for correctional officers are provided in Rule 33-602.601, F.A.C. Badge requirements for correctional probation officers are provided in Rule 33-302.115, F.A.C.

(4) Employees are solely responsible for alterations to and the care of uniforms and clothing issued by the department. Instructions for care which are attached to each item of clothing should be followed. Unless specified otherwise, the laundering and cleaning of clothing items issued to employees is the responsibility of the employee. Any items of department issued clothing, including correctional officer uniforms, which have been contaminated by blood or other body fluids shall be left at the institution to be laundered at an outside facility to prevent contamination outside the work area. All contaminated items shall be kept together apart from non-contaminated laundry and shall be clearly marked as contaminated for transmission to a professional laundering service. Contaminated items shall be placed in a water soluble bag and then placed in a yellow plastic bag labeled “Contaminated Linen” and sealed shut. Personnel handling the yellow bag during transport to the commercial laundry shall wear disposable latex gloves and shall inform personnel at the commercial laundry that the items in the bag are contaminated. Employees shall bear the cost of replacements of items lost or damaged due to improper use, care or maintenance of the item. Restitution is to be in the amount equal to the cost of the articles of clothing lost or damaged, or equal to the cost of replacement, whichever is less.

(5) Uniforms and clothing issued by the department are the property of the state and must be returned to the department upon termination of employment. Employees shall be allowed to retain issued uniforms and clothing when transferring to another institution of the department. Prior to the transfer, the transferring employee must update his or her Individual Clothing Record, Form DC2-816, and must make restitution for any lost or missing clothing. Form DC2-817, Authorization for Uniform Replacement, shall be used by officers requesting replacement of worn or otherwise unserviceable uniforms. Forms DC2-816 and DC2-817 are incorporated by reference in subsection (8) of this rule. Unserviceable clothing shall be rendered unwearable by shredding after the removal of all patches.

(6) The following provisions shall apply to health services employees:

(a) All health services staff providing direct care to inmates at an institution shall wear the department issued ID card in a visible manner. The ID shall include the employee’s last name, first name initial, and initials of licensure or certification.

(b) Physicians, clinical associates, dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, nurse supervisors, nurse consultants, executive nursing directors and pharmacists will have no prescribed uniform.

(c) Nurses, correctional medical technicians certified, health support workers, unit treatment rehabilitation specialists, ward clerks, radiology technicians and medical technologists shall be required to wear scrub suits or the standard nurse uniform. The nurse scrubs or uniform must be provided by the employee. No denim scrubs or uniforms will be permitted.

(d) Employees in the position of registered nurse, LPN, correctional medical technician, correctional medical technician certified, medical technologist, radiology technician, UTR and “ward clerk” must wear shoes such as closed toe white leather or leather-like tennis shoes, or other closed toe, slip resistant work shoes, including clogs that have secure straps in the back.

(e) The following shall apply to health services staff whose duties require providing direct care to inmates in an institution, including physicians, pharmacists, dentists, clinical associates, registered nurses, LPNs, correctional medical technicians certified, medical technologists, health support workers, UTRs and “ward clerks.”

1. Jewelry that is excessive or could pose a safety or security issue shall not be worn with the uniform. Jewelry that could be used to disable an employee will not be worn. No bulky or ornate jewelry will be worn. Bracelets or earrings are prohibited for male staff. Female staff shall be allowed to wear earrings; however, only one pair of post or clip-on earrings will be worn at a time and will be worn on earlobes only. Earrings for female staff will constitute the only body piercing ornaments allowed. For safety purposes, earrings shall not be hooped or dangling.

2. Fingernails will be neatly trimmed and clean. Fingernails shall not extend more than 1/4 inch past the end of the finger. Artificial fingernails or extenders will not be worn when having direct contact with high risk inmates, i.e., in a licensed hospital facility, intensive care units, operating rooms, or dialysis units. Hair shall be maintained in a manner consistent with infection control practices and safety considerations.

(7) All chaplains shall wear a silver-colored nameplate. The first line will be engraved with the word “Chaplain” and the second line will be engraved with the employee’s last name. The nameplate will be issued by the department.

(8) Forms. The following forms used in implementing the provisions of this rule are hereby incorporated by reference:

(a) Individual Clothing Record, DC2-816, effective 10-8-07.

(b) Authorization for Uniform Replacement, DC2-817, effective 12-18-00. A copy of these forms may be obtained from the Forms Control Administrator, Office of Research, Planning and Support Services, Department of Corrections, 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500.

Rulemaking Authority 944.09 FS. Law Implemented 944.09 FS. History–New 2-27-85, Amended 6-19-85, Formerly 33-4.07, Amended 3-6-88, 8-15-89, 2-12-91, 10-13-91, 4-19-98, 12-7-98, Formerly 33-4.007, Amended 10-5-99, 3-21-00, 12-18-00, 4-30-02, 2-20-03, 6-26-03, 10-27-03, 12-28-03, 12-12-04, 9-11-06, 2-6-07, 10-8-07, 6-28-12, 5-18-14, 10-9-18, 8-2-20.