The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office realizes that for many persons, being a victim or witness to a crime is their first experience with the criminal justice system. While emphasis of the system has been on the investigation and prosecution of crime, all too often in the past the innocent victims and witnesses have been overlooked. In an effort by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to reduce this problem and advise victims and witnesses of help available to them, the Sheriff’s Office now employs a Victim Advocate where victims and witnesses can receive a variety of help and information.

The Victim Advocate is on 24-hour call seven days a week, in addition to the regular hours of operation, and can be reached by calling (386) 752-9212. The office is located at the Operations Center located at 4917 US HWY 90 East. The regular hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Victim Advocate Section has been established to assure the victims of crime in Columbia County receive the services and protection afforded them through Florida Statutes.

VICTIM SERVICES:

CRISIS COUNSELING refers to in-person crisis intervention, emotional support, and guidance and counseling provided by advocates, counselors, mental health professionals, or peers. Such counseling may occur at the scene of the crime, immediately after a crime, or be provided on an on-going basis.

FOLLOW-UP CONTACT refers to in-person contacts, telephone contacts, and written communications with victims to offer emotional support, provide empathetic listening, check on victim’s progress, etc.

REFERRALS TO SHELTER/SAFETY refers to cooperation with shelters and safe houses within or near our area for victims and families who need protection following victimization.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL refers to in-person contacts with victims during which time services and available support are identified.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUPPORT/ADVOCACY refers to support, assistance, and advocacy provided to victims at any stage of the criminal justice process, to include post-sentencing services and support.

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE refers to helping locate resources for payment of food, emergency shelter, or other needs. It may also include assistance in filing for losses covered by public and private insurance programs such as workman’s compensation, unemployment benefits, welfare, and Medicare.

ASSISTANCE IN FILING COMPENSATION CLAIMS refers to making victims aware of the availability of the state Crime Victims’ Compensation Board, assisting the victim in completing the required forms, and in helping to gather the required documentation. It may also include follow-up contact with this board on behalf of the victim.

PERSONAL ADVOCACY refers to assisting victims in securing rights and services from other agencies, intervention with employers, creditors, and others on behalf of the victim, and relating other information about rights and remedies available to the victim.

EMERGENCY LEGAL ADVOCACY refers to the filing of temporary restraining orders, and open communication with the State Attorney’s Office.

OTHER SERVICES may include information and referrals given telephonically, attending a funeral service, or anything not covered above which may arise in a given case.

VICTIMS’ RIGHTS IN FLORIDA:
If you are a victim of a crime that occurred in the State of Florida then you are entitles to certain legal rights as a victim. The term “victim” includes a relative of a minor who is a victim or the relative of a homicide victim.

As a victim of a crime, you have the following rights:

• You have the right to be informed, to be present and to be heard when relevant at all crucial stages of a criminal or juvenile proceeding, to the extent that this right does not interfere with constitutional rights of the accused.
• You have the right to submit an oral or written impact statement at such sentencing or juvenile disposition hearing.
• You have the right to request and receive restitution from the defendant for any direct or indirect loss you may have suffered as a result of the defendant’s act, if the defendant is convicted at trial or ad judicatory hearing or pleads guilty or no contest to the offense.
• If you have property held for evidentiary purposes by a law enforcement agency, you have the right to have it photographed and returned, unless there is compelling law enforcement reason for retaining it.
• You may have a right to receive compensation for any physical injury you have received as a result of the defendant’s criminal or delinquent activity. The Victim’s Compensation Fund established under Florida Law may entitle you to financial assistance if you qualify.
•  You have a right to have information furnished to you on steps available for law enforcement officers and state attorneys to protect you from intimidation.
• You have a right to receive prompt advance notification, if possible, of:

a. The arrest of the accused.
b. The release of the accused pending judicial proceedings.
c. Proceedings in the prosecution of the accused, including the arraignment, disposition of the accusatory instrument, trial, ad judicatory hearing,   sentencing, disposition, hearing, appellate review, subsequent modification of sentence, collateral attack of a judgment , and, where a term of imprisonment, detention, or involuntary  commitment is imposed, the release of the defendant from such imprisonment, detention or commitment.

• If you are a victim of a felony involving physical or emotional injury or trauma or in the case of a minor child or a homicide, the guardian or family of the victim, you have a right to be consulted by the assistant state attorney assigned to your case concerning the disposition of the case, including:
  a. The release of the accused pending judicial proceedings.
  b. Plea agreements, if any.
  c. Participation in pretrial diversion programs.
  d. Sentencing or disposition of the accused.

If you are the victim of domestic violence, you may ask the state attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also have the right to go to court and file a petition requesting an injunction for protection from domestic violence which may include, but need not be limited to, provisions which restrain the abuser from further acts of abuse.

– A victim who has been scheduled to attend a criminal or juvenile justice proceeding shall be notified as soon as possible of any change in scheduling of such proceeding.
– A victim has the right to have a victim’s advocate attend and be present during any deposition of the victim.
– At your request, you have a right to assistance by the Office of the State Attorney in informing your employer of the need for victim and witness cooperation in the prosecution   of the case and that it may necessitate the absence of the victim or witness from work.
– If you have suffered a serious financial strain as a direct result of a crime, or cooperation with law enforcement agencies of the State Attorney, you have a right to be assisted by the State Attorney in explaining to creditors the reason for such serious financial strain.
General Victim Assistance – as a victim or witness, you also have a right to assistance in other areas such as transportation to court, parking, separate pretrial waiting areas and translator services, as is practical. The Witness Management Office of your local Circuit and County Court can assist you in these areas.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Program
4917 US Hwy 90 East
Lake City, Florida 32055
(386) 719-2002

Fingerprints are done for the public at the following location:

Columbia County Detention Facility 389 NW Quinten St. – Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm. No appointment necessary. For questions please call (386) 755-7001.

There is a $15 charge (Cash only) for this service.

If electronic submission is required, please have your ORI number available ahead of time and call the location to verify that we are able to transmit to that number. Some ORI numbers require additional fees to be paid to FDLE for the release of your prints and will be your responsibility to complete via their webpage.

Concealed Weapons Permits (Licenses) are administered through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As a public service, applicant packets can be picked up at the following Columbia County Sheriff locations:

• Columbia County Sheriff’s Operations Center, 4917 East US Hwy 90, Lake City, FL 32055
• Columbia County Sheriff’s Ft. White Office, 294 SW Bryant St., Ft. White, FL 32038
• Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Civil Division, Courthouse, 173 NE Hernando St., Lake City, FL 32055
• Columbia County Detention Facility, 389 NW Quinten St., Lake City, FL 32055

Applicant packets or questions concerning the application process may be obtained directly from the Department of Agriculture by calling 850-245-5691 or on line at Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Electronic submission of fingerprints is only available for Concealed Weapons Permit applicants. The charge for this electronic submission is the responsibility of the applicant and must be finalized on the applicant’s personal computer with their personal credit card. The directions for this transaction are included in the Concealed Weapons Permit packets.

VISITING PROCEDURES AND CONDITIONS:

All inmates are given the opportunity to complete a list of a maximum of 4 (four) visitors they wish to receive onsite video visits at this facility from. If a person is not listed on the inmate’s visitation list, they will not be allowed to visit onsite at this facility. Inmates may change their visitation list on the 1st of every month. Changes must be requested in writing on an inmate request form.

All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Visitors must navigate to the following website: www.securustech.net to register and schedule visits. Visitors may choose to schedule an onsite visit at this facility or a remote visit from a remote area, such as home, library, etc. The cost is $5.00 per remote visit during the initial promotional period set to expire on June 1, 2015, after which the cost will increase to $9.95 per remote visit. After visiting www.securustech.net to register and schedule a remote visit, visitors may then prepay via Visa or MasterCard online. Visitors who pay for remote video visits do not have to be on the inmate’s visitation list and there is no age limit for visitors. However, once scheduled, remote visits will be subject to approval by this facility. The duration of remote video visits is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes. For assistance in setting up a Securus Video Visitation account, step-by-step videos are available at https://securustech.net/support or visitors can call 800/333-8856 for assistance.

Regular onsite visitors shall identify themselves at the front desk of the lobby by use of a photo identification document such as a driver’s license or an ID card. Onsite visitors may split the two hour visit time, between visitors, however an inmate may only have one visitor at a time as long as it is within the allocated 2 hours. It is the visitor’s responsibility to watch the time if they are sharing visit. The two hour visit time is continuous in that the hours cannot be broken up (i.e. one hour in the morning and another hour later in the day).

All onsite visitors must be at least 18 years old to visit. Any person who knowingly makes or presents a false identification or statement with the intent to mislead a correctional staff member in the performance of his/her official duty shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree pursuant of F.S. 837.06.

All onsite visitors may be required to submit to a search of their persons and possessions before being admitted into the visitation area. Searches may be completed by using metal detection devices, limited pat down searches and examination of pockets or hand carried items as deemed necessary to maintain high security measures.

Bags, purses, or any item that can conceal contraband will not be allowed to be taken back to the visitation area. Visitors are encouraged to leave all items with the exception of car keys and identification locked in their vehicle.

Strip searches can be requested of the visitor should an officer suspect that a prospective visitor is concealing contraband on his/her person, and the suspicion cannot be resolved by a more limited search. The suspect must sign a written consent to the strip search. Should the visitor refuse to sign a written consent, then the visit is denied. If the visitor gives written consent to a strip search a written report giving the reason for the strip search, the officer conducting the search, the official approving the search and what if anything was found will be submitted to the Facility Administrator for review. Strip searches will be conducted by an officer of the same gender and will be conducted in privacy.

A designated official the rank of Sergeant or above, who shall evaluate the grounds to justify the search must approve strip searches.

Body cavity searches of visitors shall not be conducted.

Visitors may be searched prior to departing the facility. The same limitations and requirements are applicable for all searches.

All inmates will be searched prior to and immediately after visitation.

All visitors shall comply with the rules, regulations, and directives of the visiting institution. The shift supervisor may terminate any visit if the visitor violates any of the established rules and regulations.
A. Persons desiring to visit must be appropriately dressed, including wearing shoes.
B. Inmates shall be dressed in county issued uniforms and shoes for visitation.
C. All visits shall be conducted in the approved visitation area.
D. The facility staff is responsible for the maintaining order in the visitation area. This function will be performed while maintaining a courteous attitude towards the inmate or visitor. The staff shall not interfere with the actions of the inmate or his/her visitor unless they are found to be in violation of rules, regulation, are being disruptive, or are causing a disturbance to the visitation program.
E. Children will not be left unsupervised in the lobby, on the facility ground or in the parking lot.
F. Smoking and tobacco products are prohibited in the public area. Such items should be left in the vehicle.

VISITING SCHEDULE:

Visitation is non-contact video visitation and for a maximum of 2 hours. Inmates are allowed only one onsite visit per week. If the entire two hours are not used, the remaining time is forfeited. Visitation hours will be from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, 7 days a week, with visitation closing from 5:30PM to 6:30 PM for count procedures.

Regardless of what time the visit began, visitation is over at 10:30 P.M. and all visitors must depart the visitation area.

VISITORS IDENTIFICATION:

Photo identification shall be used to identify each visitor that enters this facility. A visitation log shall be used for accountability of the visitors. The following information will be annotated on the log:
1. Name of the visitors.
2. The date and time of arrival and departure.
3. The purpose of the visit.
4. The name of inmate visited.

RESTRICTIONS:

DOC inmates returned to this facility for court will not be allowed visits, until they have been here for at least 30 days.

Prior Inmates released from this facility will not be allowed to visit for 30 days from release.

No visits will be allowed from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM daily or with an inmate who is in disciplinary confinement, isolation due to behavior problems, or with inmates in mental health status when deemed violent or dangerous.

Attorneys may visit their clients who are in one or more of the restricted status mentioned. Arrangements should be made in advance for attorney/client visits for any violent or dangerous inmate. No attorney/client visit shall be unreasonably delayed except under the conditions mentioned herein.

REFUSAL OF VISIT:

An inmate has the right to refuse a visit. Such refusal shall be made in writing and forwarded to the shift supervisor. A copy of such refusal shall be placed in the inmate’s record jacket.

VISITATION DENIAL:

A. Permission to visit may be denied if that person:
1. Has introduced or attempted to introduce contraband into this or any correctional facility.
2. Has assisted or attempted to assist in an escape from this or any other correctional facility.
3. Has committed serious or repeated violations of this institution’s regulations during previous visits, or if either the inmate or the visitor had given false information or has attempted to conceal his/her identity in order to obtain visiting privileges.
4. Is under the influence of intoxicants
5. Name is not approved on the original visitor’s list.
6. Visitor becomes unmanageable, disrespectful, uses abusive or obscene language, and/or creates a disturbance during their visit.
7. Visitor is not wearing clothing that is appropriate for visitation, such as:
a. Miniskirts, see through blouses, bra-less attire, swimsuit, or any excessively short form of dress.
b. Micro-mini shorts, cutoffs, or daisy duke style shorts
c. Halter tops or tops with spaghetti straps
d. Fishnet jerseys or clothing that does not cover the upper body
e. Excessively tight fitting clothing or clothing that displays or reveals areas of the upper or lower body i.e.: the naval
f. Any clothing with suggestive slogans relating to race, creed, sex or natural origin.
g. Visitor refuses to be searched prior to entering the visitation area.
h. Visitor refusing to provide identification and relationship information.
i. Visitor presents a danger to security or the operations of the facility.
8. Visitors with excessive violations, criminal history, or criminal convictions for capital type offences.

Visiting privileges can be suspended and visitors can be removed from the approved list for serious rule violations, for continuous infraction of visiting procedures, for security breaches, or a combination of any of the above. When an incident occurs, a report of the infraction will be prepared for the Director’s review and final judgment.

Visits shall not be denied because of:
a. Race, creed, gender, or natural origin of the inmate or visitor.
b. Ideas or opinions held or expressed by the inmate or visitor, unless advocated violence or violation of the law or rules.
c. Reasons unrelated to the security or order of the facility.

PERSONAL PROPERTY:

Personal property is not accepted for inmates. All hygiene items, underclothing and snack foods must be purchased from the commissary. An inmate may release their property to a family member or friend at any time. The person to whom the property is released must be specified on the property release. That person must show proper ID before the property will be released to them. Property will not be released without proper authorization. Property release forms must already be in the Main Control Room prior to the person(s) picking it up arrives. Released property must be picked up within 7 days of the date on the release form. All property not claimed within 30 days of an inmate’s departure will be given to a charitable organization. Inmates are not allowed to leave property behind upon departure from this facility. Clothing items will not be released.

RESTRICTIONS:

Smoking, tobacco products, weapons, such as knives, guns, clubs, chemical devices, personal cameras, tape recorders, and other like contraband is prohibited within this facility. This restriction excludes official investigators or attorneys with prior authorization. Concealing any of the mentioned restricted items in the bathroom or public area is a felony offense and is punishable by law up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $10,000.00.