Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

Provides a liaison among citizens, private organizations and law enforcement officials regarding missing children information. The MCIC is a central repository of information regarding missing children. The information is collected and disseminated to assist law enforcement agencies, public and private organizations and the citizens of Florida in locating missing children. The MCIC is utilized as a resource center and information exchange service, and complements the state and federal computerized missing persons files. MCIC accepts cases that meet the following criteria: (1) The child has been reported missing to a law enforcement agency and entered into the National Crime Information Center database (2) The child is seventeen (17) years of age or younger (3) The child is missing from Florida or believed to be in Florida

Today, FDLE is headed by a Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor and approved by the Cabinet. Headquartered in Tallahassee, FDLE employs nearly 2,000 members statewide who work at the departmentÆs seven Regional Operations Centers, 15 field offices and seven crime laboratories. The members of FDLE are guided by four fundamental values as they respond to the needs of FloridaÆs citizens and criminal justice community: service, integrity, respect, and quality.

FDLE is structured to deliver services in five program areas:

Executive Direction and Business Support Program Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science Program Florida Capitol Police Program Criminal Justice Information Program Criminal Justice Professionalism Program FDLE is one of the few state law enforcement agencies in the country to have earned triple accreditation. FDLE is accredited by the National Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the American Society of Crime Lab Directors, and the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Office of Executive Direction provides management, coordination, and leadership to the agency, and ensures that FDLEÆs mission and objectives are being followed. The Office of Executive Direction consists of the CommissionerÆs Office, the General CounselÆs Office, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Public Information Office.

Business Support assists FDLEÆs programs by coordinating and providing the business activities necessary for the daily operations of the agency. Business Support includes finance and accounting, human resources, budget, general services, and criminal justice grants.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC SCIENCE PROGRAM

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides investigative, forensic, and protective services to local, state, and federal agencies. The Investigations and Forensic Science Program provides Investigative Services, Public Assistance Fraud Services, Mutual Aid and Protective Services, and Crime Laboratory Services.

FDLE conducts independent investigations and coordinates multi-jurisdictional and special criminal investigations with local, state, and federal authorities in four key investigative focus areas: major drugs, violent crime, public integrity, and fraud/economic crime. FDLE provides specialized investigative assistance for computer crime cases, and gathers and shares intelligence information with other criminal justice agencies through the Office of Statewide Intelligence. FDLE also serves as the agency responsible for coordinating and directing counter-terrorism efforts for the state of Florida, and works closely with the Division of Emergency Management and other federal, state, and local agencies to implement FloridaÆs Domestic Security Strategy. This includes the coordination of the stateÆs seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces, which are co-chaired by FDLE Special Agents in Charge and Florida Sheriffs and serve as the foundation of FloridaÆs integrated efforts for homeland security.

FDLE also investigates fraud and abuse in FloridaÆs public assistance programs. Primarily, these investigations are in the cash assistance, food stamp, Medicaid, school readiness and subsidized child day care programs. Investigations are conducted on program recipients, employees of the various assistance programs suspected of compromising their official positions, and providers of day care services. FDLE is responsible for administering the Florida Mutual Aid Plan, which coordinates state and local law enforcement response during a declared state of emergency. FDLE also provides protection for the Governor and first family, the GovernorÆs mansion and office, and visiting dignitaries. FDLE responds to the requests of law enforcement agencies for crime scene processing by recording, collecting, and preserving physical evidence for investigative and laboratory examinations. Using state of the art equipment and scientific techniques, FDLE provides expert and professional examination of evidentiary materials in the following disciplines: chemistry, toxicology, microanalysis, latent prints, serology/DNA, firearms, crime scene, and computer evidence recovery. FDLE also houses the stateÆs DNA Database, which collects, analyzes, and stores DNA samples from offenders convicted of designated crimes.

FLORIDA CAPITOL POLICE PROGRAM

The Florida Capitol Police serve as a specially trained security and law enforcement unit assigned to protect the security of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Cabinet, Legislature, state officials, and employees and visitors to the Capitol Complex. Capitol Police posts law enforcement and security personnel to ensure the safety and security of occupants of the Capitol Complex. Patrol, communications, protective services, and a bike squad, make up the Operations Unit. The Special Operations Unit consists of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), K-9, and Investigations. Capitol Police has trained and certified Bomb Technicians assigned to respond to bomb threats and bomb related emergencies. Capitol Police Investigators conduct intelligence related activities as well as investigate reports of criminal activity within the Capitol Complex.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION PROGRAM

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is committed to providing timely and accurate criminal justice information to prevent crime, solve cases, recover property, and to identify persons with criminal warrants, arrests, and convictions. The Department also provides statistical and analytical information about crime to policymakers and the public so that informed decisions can be made regarding the best way to combat and prevent crime.

FDLE maintains the central repository of criminal history records, as well as ôhot filesö that provide data about wanted and missing persons; stolen guns, vehicles, and other property; domestic violence injunctions; parole statuses; deported aliens; and registered sexual predators. These databases are accessible to all criminal justice agencies statewide using the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC II) network, which also links Florida agencies to other states via the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) network. FDLEÆs Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) provides immediate positive identification of fingerprints of arrested persons and an automatic update of the criminal history files. The Criminal Justice Information Program also provides criminal identification screening services to criminal justice agencies, non-criminal justice agencies, and private citizens to identify persons with criminal warrants, arrests, and convictions. The goal of this service is to prevent persons with criminal histories from gaining sensitive employment and licensing in certain professions. FDLE also maintains a clearinghouse of missing children information, and collects and maintains information on FloridaÆs registered sexual predators/offenders and career offenders.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALISM PROGRAM

The FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism Program provides staff support to the Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission and the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. Additionally, the Program is responsible for the FDLE Criminal Justice Executive Institute, the Leadership Center, the Florida Alcohol Testing Program, training of sworn FDLE personnel, and the Florida D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program and FDLE member training.

The Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission (CJSTC), established under FS 943, is an independent policy making body that ensures that FloridaÆs citizens are served by a qualified, well trained, competent, and ethical law enforcement community. The 19 member Commission is comprised of criminal justice and community leaders as set forth in Florida Statute. The CJSTC is responsible for creating entry-level curricula and certification testing for criminal justice officers in Florida, establishing minimum standards for employment and certification and revoking the certification of officers who fail to maintain these minimum standards of conduct.

The Medical Examiners Commission was created pursuant to Chapter 406.02, F.S. and also under this statute the staff is housed within FDLE. The Commission consists of nine (9) members, seven (7) of which are appointed by the Governor. The Commission is responsible for overseeing certain of the activities of the twenty-four (24) medical examiner districts and to this end submits an annual activity report to the Governor and Legislature. The Commission meets at least quarterly to discuss matters affecting the Florida medical examiners which may include nominations to the Governor for appointments, discussion of policy, generating or changing the administrative rules which affect medical examiner activities, proceeding with disciplinary action, or interacting with citizens, or other county, state or federal agencies in matters dealing with forensic death investigations.

Florida Statute 943.125 created a voluntary law enforcement accreditation program. Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards and has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Law enforcement agencies in Florida who comply with more than 250 professional standards designed specifically for Florida law enforcement agencies can now attain accredited status through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. Corrections agencies in Florida can now attain accredited status through the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc.

The FDLE Criminal Justice Executive Institute provides external training delivering educational programs to FloridaÆs criminal justice executives, senior leaders, and first line supervisors. This training prepares them to deal with complex issues facing our state (Sec. 943.1755, FS). The Executive Institute (FCJEI) offers the Chief Executive Seminar, Senior Leadership Program, Florida Leadership Academy, and continuing development classes.

The Leadership Center is a Criminal Justice Standard and Training Commission certified law enforcement training school that is founded on FDLEÆs basic principles and consists of three major components: formal training and education, operational experience and individual preparation. The Leadership Center function and processes are governed by FDLE Policy and focuses on three main areas of training: member training, external training and agency support.

The Professionalism Program also has oversight of the training of FDLEÆs sworn personnel. The Special Agent Training Academy provides FDLE Special Agents with a comprehensive training program. The new design presents a foundation of core investigative skills used by FDLE. After mastery of the fundamentals, agents learn and practice skills in five application-based components that relate to the agencyÆs investigative strategies. Throughout their career sworn members continue to receive in-service and advanced training courses to improve their knowledge and performance. Sworn members participate in quarterly training designed by the SATA staff to include Officer Survival Training.

The Florida Alcohol Testing Program enhances public safety by ensuring the accuracy and scientific reliability of evidentiary breath and blood alcohol tests, facilitating enforcement of the implied consent laws, and promoting the qualifications and professionalism of persons responsible for breath and blood alcohol analysis within the State of Florida.

FDLE is the state administrator for the Florida D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program. FDLEÆs role includes the preparation and oversight of the budget; training and certification of D.A.R.E. officers and publication of an Annual Report. Additionally, the FDLE is responsible for ensuring compliance with national standards, delivery of technical assistance and provide statewide program management.d

• CDBG Eligible Referral
  • No 
• Evening Hours
  • YES 
• United Way Program
  • No 
• Weekend Hours
  • Yes 

Open to all.

All missing children must be entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

Required Documents: No documents required

No fee.

State of Florida

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/SexPreds.asp

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us

8/22/2023