Background Check Disqualifiers for Working in Florida Corrections — What Could Prevent Hiring at Liberty CI

Background checks in corrections exist for a straightforward reason: the job gives staff authority, access, and responsibility inside a secure environment. At Liberty Correctional Institution, applicants must demonstrate "good moral character," and that determination comes from a background investigation following commission-set procedures. It's not just about whether you have a record. Your overall history and conduct need to meet the standards required for the role.

Convictions Disqualify

• ✓ Any felony conviction
• ✓ A misdemeanor conviction involving perjury or a false statement
• ✓ A dishonorable discharge from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces

Fingerprinting is part of the screening process. Liberty CI applicants must have documentation of processed fingerprints on file with the employing agency. If you're applying as a contractor-employed correctional officer, that documentation needs to be on file with the Department of Corrections or the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. This sounds like a simple administrative box to check, but a missing record or one filed with the wrong entity can hold up your application.

• ✓ Confirm the employing agency has documentation of your processed fingerprints on file.
• ✓ Ask for proof of submission or receipt so you know the prints were processed and recorded.
• ✓ If you are contractor-employed, confirm whether the documentation is held by the Department of Corrections or the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

1. Pull your own records first - Have accurate dates and dispositions in front of you before you start the process, because the hiring decision relies on a background investigation and a “good moral character” determination.
2. Be straightforward about what will be checked - Expect the background investigation to be used to evaluate good moral character under commission procedures.
3. Ask early how decisions are made - If you have any history that might raise questions, ask what documentation the employer wants to see during the background investigation so there are fewer surprises.

For answers specific to your situation, start by contacting the hiring side at Liberty CI (or whichever employing agency you're applying through). Ask how they handle fingerprint documentation and the background investigation process. If you're a contractor-employed applicant, confirm whether your processed fingerprints need to be on file with the Department of Corrections or the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. For eligibility and "good moral character" determinations, the commission's background-investigation procedures are what ultimately drive the decision.