During Fiscal Year 2021-22, 1,519 inmates earned general equivalency diplomas (GED), 1,455 inmates were awarded career/technical certificates, and 5,192 inmates were awarded industry certificates while in the Florida prison system.
Additionally, the Second Chance Pell Program provides an opportunity for inmates to work towards Associates degrees through a partnership with Florida Gateway College, Ashland University, Palm Beach State College, and Miami-Dade College. Pell Grants are federal need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. The Second Chance Pell Pilot Program offers Pell Grant eligibility to inmates selected and supervised by FDC who are eligible for release within the next five years. During Fiscal Year 2021-22, the department’s Second Chance Pell Programs served more than 250 students and the program locations increased from 1 correctional site to 10, including a community release center. During 2022, 63 inmates earned Associate of Arts degrees and 2 inmates earned Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.
The Department of Corrections has historically provided inmate labor to work for state agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture, cities, counties, municipalities, and non-profit organizations. These community work squads include contracted work squads, interagency community work squads, and public work squads.
Some inmates also participate in community release. Community release is a community transition program that allows certain incarcerated inmates to work at paid employment in the community while continuing as inmates of the facility where they are housed during non-work hours. The department reports that participation in this program provides the inmate with the opportunity to acquire savings prior to release from incarceration; enhance employability skills prior to release; re-establish family ties within the community; and attend self-betterment programs.
Eligible inmates may also work outside prison grounds when assigned to Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE), which is a state-authorized private not-for-profit inmate training company operating general manufacturing and services facilities in correctional institutions throughout Florida.
Every correctional institution facilitates religious programs for inmates through chaplaincy staff and volunteers. In institutions throughout the state the department has 59 full-time, 63 OPS chaplain positions, and 4 regional chaplains in addition to 2 full-time correctional chaplaincy services specialist positions, 1 full-time Government Operations Consultant II, 1 OPS Government Operations Consultant I, and 1 full-time Chaplaincy Services Administrator in the central office.
Additionally, the Faith and Character-Based residential programs (FCBP) is a Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) effort to reduce recidivism and disciplinary infractions by offering programming that promotes pro-social behavior. It is directed towards those who are motivated to change and is open to male and female medium, minimum, close, and community custody level inmates. The program offers a variety of activities and classes that are both religious and secular. Inmates can choose among courses on life skills training, religious education, substance use recovery, family life training, mentoring, and academic or vocational subjects. Residential clustering is used to promote a sense of community and to create positive peer interaction. The Faith and Character-Based residential program can be completed in 18 to 36 months. The department had 34 Faith and Character-Based residential program locations with a total of 4,847 beds in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
General Release Needs. The department provides inmates transitioning from prison to the community with a variety of programs, referrals, resources, and assistance. All inmates are provided release orientation and a release plan. Release staff supply inmates with re-entry services and referrals based on their individually assessed release needs. Re-entry services include access to multiple outside organizations providing pre- and post-release services authorized and funded through legislative proviso. Additionally, the department provides a re-entry resource directory, which can provide individual referrals to each inmate to services such as housing and substance abuse treatment.
100-Hour Transition Program/Compass 100. Under s. 944.7065, Florida Statutes, the department is statutorily required to provide a 100-hour comprehensive transition course that covers job readiness and life management skills to all inmates prior to release. During Fiscal Year 2021-22, 16,577 inmates released completed a course.
Mental Health Re-Entry Program. The department's Office of Health Services has assigned aftercare specialists at all institutions with inmates in need of psychiatric assistance. When the inmate's end of sentence date is within 180-days, the department initiates mental health re-entry planning. Eligible inmates that consent to aftercare planning receive a 14-day supply of their prescribed medication on the day of their release and an appointment with a community mental health provider. Providers are encouraged to schedule and see the individual for this initial intake appointment within the first 14-days of their release to provide continuity of care for their mental health treatment and continued medication treatment. The Mental Health Re-Entry Program also assists with Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications for inmates that have been diagnosed with psychotic disorders, intellectual disabilities, and other disabling symptoms as determined by qualified mental health professionals 45-days prior to their release. There are also designated individuals from the department's Bureau of Admission and Release that assist in re-entry planning for inmates with physical health conditions that require post-release follow-up.
According to the most recent rate for 2018, the department reported that 21.2% of the inmates who left Florida's prisons in 2018 returned to prison (or recidivated) within three years. Some factors that can influence an increase in an inmate's likelihood of recidivism include the number of prior prison commitments, the number of criminal associates, their homeless status upon release, and if they receive supervision after release. Other factors such as increased education level and having a lower custody level upon release can lower the likelihood of recidivating. According to the most recent re-arrest rate for 2018, the department reported that 60.5% of the inmates who left Florida's prisons in 2018 were re-arrested in Florida within three years.
Inmate Welfare Trust Funds. From 1979 until 2003, s. 945.215, Florida Statutes, provided for a trust fund that allowed the department to use revenue from the purchase of inmate canteen items and from inmate telephone calls to fund inmate programs at publicly operated correctional facilities. Chapter 2003-179, Laws of Florida, eliminated the former trust fund for public correctional facilities and required the revenue from inmate canteens and telephone usage to go directly into the General Revenue Fund. In 2020, the Legislature enacted that created the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund within the Department of Corrections.
Fund | Dollars | Positions | |
---|---|---|---|
PROGRAM: EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS | |||
ADULT OFFENDER TRANSITION, REHABILITATION AND SUPPORT |
21,697,290
|
81.00 |
|
ADULT SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, EVALUATION AND TREATMENT SERVICES |
22,485,331
|
35.00 |
|
BASIC EDUCATION SKILLS |
89,778,272
|
656.00 |
|
COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT SERVICES |
31,473,714
|
.00 |
|
TOTAL |
165,434,607 |
772.00 |
Operation New Hope. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-276, Laws of Florida, which allows the Department of Corrections, in accordance with s. 944.706, Florida Statutes, to contract with the nonprofit organization Operation New Hope to provide inmate reentry services that may include counseling, providing information on housing and job placement, money management, and programs addressing mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring conditions. A contract with Operation New Hope must be consistent with funding appropriated in the General Appropriations Act.
Inmate Welfare Trust Funds. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-244, Laws of Florida, which allows the collection of revenue from additional sources such as collection of damage, cost of incarceration liens, and copayments for nonemergency visits to a health care provider to be deposited into the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund.The law eliminates the $100 cap on weekly amounts inmates can spend on canteen and vending items and has the Department of Corrections establish a new limit. The law increases the authorized amount of deposits into the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund from $2.5 million up to $32 million per fiscal year. Any excess revenue above $32 million must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. The law now allows trust funds to be used to fix capital outlay for educational facilities and provide environmental health upgrades to facilities, including fixed capital outlay repairs and maintenance that would improve environmental conditions of the correctional facilities.
The 2023 Legislature also enacted the annual budget, Ch. 2023-239, Laws of Florida, which includes a $29.5 million increase to the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund to offer inmates improved and increased access to program and wellness activities including: educational programming expansion, substance abuse treatment programs and a phone call savings pilot program.
Education for Student Inmates. Chapter 2022-143, Laws of Florida, authorizes the Department of Corrections and each county, respectively, to contract with Florida College System institutions to provide education services for student inmates. The educational services may include any educational, career, or vocation training that is authorized by a county or municipal detention facility, or the department. State funds are authorized to be used on postsecondary workforce education programs for state inmates with 24 months or less remaining on their sentences.
Florida Correctional Facilities, Report 19-08, October 2019 |
Other Reports
Florida Prison Recidivism Report: Releases From 2008 to 2020, Florida Department of Corrections, July 2022
Department of Corrections- Quality Assessment Review, Auditor General Report 2023-027, September 2022
Department of Corrections - Inmate Trust Accounts, Inmate Health Care Services Contracts, and Prior Audit Follow-Up - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report 2016-179, March 2016
Department of Corrections - Canteen Operations and Prior Audit Follow-Up - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report 2015-087, January 2015
Agency Annual Reports, Florida Department of Corrections
Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Corrections Office of Programs and Reentry
American Correctional Association
American Probation and Parole Association
Performance Information
Department of Corrections, 850-488-7052
Website