As of January 1, 2003, under the Florida Career Offender Registration Act, a select group of convicted felons with multiple convictions are required to register their residences with law enforcement and a state registry maintained by FDLE, the Career Offender Application for Statewide Tracking (COAST). These offenders, by virtue of their histories of offenses, present a threat to the public and to communities. This registration law assists law enforcement agencies in timely apprehending a career offender if they engage again in criminal conduct. Registration is not a punishment, but merely a status. Failure of a career offender to register their residence is a third degree felony. Career offenders are individuals who have been designated by a court as a habitual violent felony offender, a violent career criminal, or a three-time violent felony offender under s. 775.084, or as a prison releasee reoffender under s. 775.082(9), AND who are serving or have been released from sanction in the State of Florida on or after July 1, 2002.

It is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for a person who has reason to believe that a career offender is not complying, or has not complied, with the requirements under 775.261 F.S. and who, with the intent to assist the career offender in eluding a law enforcement agency that is seeking to find the career offender to question the career offender about, or to arrest the career offender for, his or her noncompliance with the requirements of this section, to: (a) Withhold information from, or fail to notify, the law enforcement agency about the career offender's noncompliance with the requirements of this section and, if known, the whereabouts of the career offender; (b) Harbor or attempt to harbor, or assist another in harboring or attempting to harbor, the career offender; (c) Conceal or attempt to conceal, or assist another in concealing or attempting to conceal, the career offender; or (d) Provide information to the law enforcement agency regarding the career offender which the person knows to be false.

The public may call the FDLE Career Offender Unit direct at 1-(850) 410-8780 1-(850) 410-8780 to inquire about career offender registration laws or registrants in their area. Registration information is public record and may be released to the public. Law enforcement agencies may inform the community and the public of the presence of a career offender in the community. Upon notification of the presence of a career offender, the sheriff of the county or the chief of police of the municipality where the career offender establishes or maintains a permanent or temporary residence may notify the community and the public of the presence of the career offender in a manner deemed appropriate by the sheriff or the chief of police.

The sheriff or the police chief may coordinate the community and public notification efforts with FDLE. Statewide notification to the public is authorized, as deemed appropriate by local law enforcement personnel and FDLE.

FDLE, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), the Department of Corrections (DOC), any law enforcement agency in this state, and the personnel of those departments; an elected or appointed official, public employee, or school administrator; or an employee, agency, or any individual or entity acting at the request or upon the direction of any law enforcement agency is immune from civil liability for damages for good faith compliance with the requirements of the Florida Career Offender Registration Act or for the release of information under the act and shall be presumed to have acted in good faith in compiling, recording, reporting, or releasing the information. The presumption of good faith is not overcome if a technical or clerical error is made by FDLE, DHSMV, DOC, the personnel of those departments, or any individual or entity acting at the request or upon the direction of any of those departments in compiling or providing information, or if information is incomplete or incorrect because a career offender fails to report or falsely reports his or her current place of permanent or temporary residence.

Reference: Florida Statutes sections: 775.26, 775.261, 944.608, 944.609.