PREAMBLE

 

                                          

 

The purpose of the Florida Criminal Justice Educators’ Association (FCJEA) is to foster cooperation among all Florida criminal justice educators, agencies and institutions, and where applicable, to act as an extension of local criminal justice advisory committees in matters relating to planning, programming, budgeting and training which affect their respective institutions, areas and regions; to act as an advisory body; and to make recommendations to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Education, and related professional associations.  The focus of the association will be on matters relating to curriculum development, program planning, articulation, and ensuring adequate funding, as well as fostering cooperation and developing partnerships with Florida’s criminal justice community.

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

                                          

 

The name of this organization shall be the Florida Criminal Justice Educators’ Association. It shall not be affiliated with any public, private or commercial identity.

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

 

 

Section 1:

 

A voting regular member must be an individual with responsibility for a regionally accredited Florida criminal justice college degree program.  A college shall have no more than one individual representative sitting as a voting member of the Association and the principle of "one college‑one vote" shall apply.

 

 

 

Section 2:

 

A college may designate an alternate member to act in the absence of the voting regular member.  However, a written authorization designating the alternate member must be presented to the Chairperson prior to any meeting of the Association.

 

 

 

Section 3:

 

All colleges shall advise the Chairperson of the complete name, address, and telephone number of the "regular" and any "alternate" member within thirty (30) days of the adoption of this Constitution.  Any changes in the status of these individual members shall be provided to the Chairperson within two (2) weeks of the change.

 

 

 

Section 4:

 

Ex-officio membership shall include a representative from the Florida Criminal Justice Training Center Director’s Association.

 

 

 

Section 5:

 

Membership (non-voting) may include individuals demonstrating interest in college criminal justice educational issues.

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

OFFICERS AND DUTIES

 

 

 

Section 1:

 

The Florida College Criminal Justice Educator’s Association shall have the following officers, each of whom shall be a regular member:

 

 

 

a.       Chairperson

 

b.      Vice Chairperson

 

c.       Regional Directors (5)

 

d.      Secretary

 

e.       Treasurer

 

 

 

Candidates for the positions of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Regional Directors shall submit their names or have their names submitted to the Chair of the Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee Chair shall provide a written ballot listing all nominated candidates and providing space for write‑in candidates to the membership at the first Association meeting of the odd numbered calendar year.  Each regular member may submit one (1) ballot, marked with the name(s) of the candidate(s) of the member's preference, to the Steering Committee Chair at this meeting.  Results of the written balloting will be reported to the membership as soon as practicable.  Any candidate receiving a simple majority of the votes cast shall have won the position sought unless otherwise determined by a vote of the membership.  If no candidate has received a majority of votes, a run-off election will be conducted by open vote.  If the Steering Committee Chairperson is a candidate for office, the Chairperson shall appoint a member of the Steering Committee to administer the election.  The Chairperson shall appoint the Secretary and Treasurer.

 

 

 

Section 2:  The term of office and duties of each officer shall be as follows:

 

 

 

a.       The Chairperson shall serve from second Association meeting of the calendar year through eight consecutive quarterly meetings. Election for the position of Chairperson shall be held in odd‑numbered years.

 

 

 

1.      It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to preside over all Association meetings, to have general and active managerial and supervisory responsibility for all Association meetings and activities, to appoint special committees as may be required and to conduct such other routine Association business as necessary.  The Chairperson shall provide a proposed agenda to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to scheduled meetings.  A final agenda shall be provided to the membership during the week of the scheduled Association meeting.  The Chairperson shall provide a copy of the minutes of each Association meeting to the membership not later than thirty (30) days following each Association meeting.  The minutes of each Association meeting shall be offered for consideration to the membership at the next scheduled Association meeting.  The membership shall be the final approving authority for the adoption of all minutes of Association meetings.

 

 

 

         b.  It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chairperson to represent the Chairperson as needed.

 

 

 

c.    The Regional Directors shall serve from the second meeting of the odd numbered calendar year through eight consecutive quarterly meetings.  Members of the respective regions shall elect the Regional Directors at the first meeting of the Association in odd­-numbered years.

 

 

 

1.      It shall be the duty of the Regional Directors to represent the interests of those colleges located in their regions as indicated in paragraph (a) below.   

 

                                                                                                                                         

 

(a)       To provide for regional coordination, FCJEA has geographically subdivided by county, the state of Florida into five regions, each coordinated by an elected Regional Director. 

 

 

 

Region I (Florida Panhandle)

 

Escambia, Bay, Santa Rosa, Franklin, Washington, Holmes, Gadsden, Wakulla, Leon, Gulf, Okaloosa, Walton, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty

 

 

 

Region II (North Florida)

 

Nassau, Baker, Columbia, Duval, St. John’s, Flagler, Alachua, Taylor, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette, Dixie, Gilchrist, Clay, Union, Levy, Bradford

 

 

 

Region III (Central Florida)

 

Brevard, Sumter, Orange, Volusia, Seminole, Marion, Lake, Osceola, Putnam

 

 

 

Region IV (Florida Central, West Coast)

 

Pasco, Hernando, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Lee, Glades, Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands

 

 

 

Region V (South Florida)

 

Broward, Indian River, Monroe, Dade, Palm Beach, Okeechobee, Martin, St. Lucie

 

 

 

d.   It shall be the duty of the Secretary and the Treasurer to attend all Association meetings.  The Secretary shall conduct a roll call of the membership present to determine if a quorum is present, to record all motions presented and the results thereof, to record all business brought before the Association and to provide a "draft" copy of the minutes to the Chairperson and Regional Directors no later than fifteen (15) days following the Association meeting.  The Secretary shall develop and maintain a file consisting of the following documents and such other material as may be required.  This file shall be available at all Association meetings.

 

 

 

1.      A current roster of the Association membership both regular and alternate.

 

2.      A copy of each "draft" set of minutes from previous meetings.

 

3.      A copy of all approved minutes.

 

4.      Copies of all correspondence generated by the Association.

 

5.      A copy of "Roberts Rules of Order".

 

 

 

The Treasurer shall be responsible for handling collection of fees, banking, reporting, and providing to the Association a copy of the Association budget and expenditures to date.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 3:  Special Elections, Terms of Office

 

 

 

a.       If, for any reason, an officer of the Association cannot fulfill the duties and term of his or her office, the Chairperson shall appoint an interim officer to serve until the next regular election. 

 

b.      If, for any reason, the Chairperson cannot fulfill the duties and term of his or her office, the Vice Chairperson, shall serve until the next regular election.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

ARTICLE IV

 

RULES OF PROCEDURE

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

Section 1: Robert's Rule of Order shall be used as a guide for operational procedures at all Association meetings.

 

 

 

Section 2: A quorum shall consist of a majority of the current voting members and/or their respective alternates."  In the event a quorum is not present, the Chairperson may continue with the meeting; however, no formal action on behalf of the Association, shall be voted upon.

 

 

 

Section 3: All matters of question or dispute shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present.

 

 

 

Section 4: All decisions by the membership shall reflect the opinion of the majority, and minority opinions on any given vote or question shall be recorded when so requested by any member.  Decisions shall be in the form of a recommendation and shall be forwarded to the appropriate agency.

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

 

 

 

Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by fulfillment of the following provisions:

 

 

 

a.       Approval by two‑thirds affirmative vote of the voting members present at any regularly scheduled or special meeting, providing notice of the proposed amendment and copies thereof have been duly circulated to all members at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be presented.

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MEETINGS

 

 

 

Section 1: Regular Association meetings will normally be held quarterly, prior to meetings of the Florida Criminal Justice Training Center Director’s Association.  Specific agendas will be set by the Chair to allow for subcommittee meetings as determined.  

 

 

 

Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, a Regional Director, or by a petition of at least two‑thirds of the membership.  Minutes of all such meetings shall be taken.                                        

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

 

 

 

Section 1: Standing Committees.  The Chairperson shall appoint members to serve on standing committees as listed below.  The term of standing committee appointments shall be concurrent with the term of the Chairperson.  All members of the Association are expected to serve on either standing or ad hoc committees of the Association.

 

 

 

a.       Rules Committee: The function of the committee shall be to review rules and regulations of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, the Department of Education, or other agencies, which may affect the conduct and/or content of criminal justice education in the State of Florida, and to provide input and consultation to the rule‑making body as required.  In addition, the Rules Committee shall review procedural and reporting requirements and work with the educational entities to consolidate, simplify,  and expedite such procedures wherever possible.

 

 

 

b.      Articulation Committee: The function of the committee shall be to review articulation issues and/or curriculum content on an ongoing basis, and make appropriate recommendations and curriculum. 

 

 

 

c.       Steering Committee: The Steering Committee will be composed of the Regional Directors.  The function of the committee shall be to maintain awareness of the ongoing work of the educational entities, and of the various standing and ad hoc committees so as to make useful recommendations to the Chair and the membership regarding long range planning and the overall development of criminal justice education in the state.  Upon request, the steering committee can serve as a coordinating or support group.

 

 

 

d.  Curriculum Committee:  The function of the Curriculum Committee is to periodically review, monitor, and recommend revisions relating to college criminal justice program curriculums. The committee will act as a liaison with members of relevant state committees to ensure interests of the Association are represented.

 

 

 

e.  Membership Committee:  The Membership Committee will maintain and review current membership in the Association.   Additional responsibilities include recruitment, membership development, and promotion of the Association.  The Membership Committee will provide for the promotion of college criminal justice education in the state of Florida.

 

 

 

Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees.  From time to time, the Chairperson shall appoint ad hoc committees to study and make recommendations regarding issues of interest to the Association. Such committees shall serve until acceptance of a final report by the membership at a regular or special meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

.