2012 CONTINUED

Secretary Michael D. Crews

December 17, 2012, Governor Rick Scott appoints Michael D. Crews as Secretary. Crews had been serving as Deputy Secretary under Ken Tucker. Crews, who joined the Department in 2011 as part of the leadership team established by then-Secretary Tucker, had previously served at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) as the Director of Professional Programs. Secretary Crews started his career at the Department in 1985 as a correctional officer at Apalachee Correctional Institution and then a probation officer before moving to FDLE. At the time of his appointment, FDC is the third largest state prison system in the country with a budget of $2.3 billion, and 143 facilities statewide including 48 prisons, five private prisons, 15 prison annexes, 33 work camps, one re-entry center, 33 work release centers, five road prisons, one forestry camp and one boot camp. About three quarters of its staff of more than 25,000 employees are either certified correctional officers or probation officers.

“My number ONE priority as Deputy and Secretary was ensuring we were doing everything possible to properly provide for the safety and security of our CO’s and CPO’s as well as our civilian employees. We attempted to accomplish this through budget request increases for staffing, resources, equipment and training,” said Crews.