Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Department of Corrections

Inmate Programs

For assistance, call 850-488-5021 or visit http://www.dc.state.fl.us/

What is the purpose of the programs?

Inmate programs provide basic life skills, academic and vocational education, substance use treatment, and re-entry services to inmates transitioning from prison to the community. In addition, programs provide meaningful activities that help keep inmates constructively occupied and contribute to the safe and secure operation of facilities. Vocational and work release opportunities provide inmates with an avenue to learn and apply new skills while developing a work ethic necessary to succeed in the workforce. Programming provides skills which help to increase the inmate's probability of successfully reentering the community and reduce the likelihood they will return to prison. Reentry programming success equals fewer victims and safer communities. The department also provides chaplaincy services that provide worship services and religious education at every correctional institution.

How many inmates receive academic credentials while in prison?

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.

How many offenders participate in substance abuse treatment and how many are identified as needing substance abuse treatment?

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, 8,542 inmates participated in institutional-based substance use programs. The institutional-based programs are located in major prison institutions, work camps, reentry centers, and community release centers. Based on screening completed at intake, 58% of the total inmate population are screened to be in need of substance use treatment services.

Can inmates work outside prison grounds?

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.

Do inmates get paid to work?

Some inmates receive compensation for working. For example, inmates who operate staff, visiting park, and inmate canteens, along with staff barbers and staff shoe shiners may receive up to $50 in compensation monthly. Also, inmates in community work assignments may receive a stipend of up to $20 per month. There are approximately 688 inmates at any one time with these assignments. Inmates participating in Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE), and Prison Industries Enhancement (PIE) are also paid for their work. Additionally, community release also allows 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.

Does the department have faith-based programs?

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.

What is the religious diet program?

Some inmates have religious dietary obligations.  The department offers a religious diet that meets the dietary obligations of Judaism, Islam, and other faith groups. Inmates apply to participate in these programs through the institutional chaplain.  Currently, over 4% of the inmate population participates in the Religious Diet Program/Certified Food Option (RDP/CFO).

What kind of pre-release transition programs do inmates receive?

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.

What is the inmate recidivism and re-arrest rate?

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.

What are the Inmate Welfare Trust Funds?

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.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2023-24
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

Updates

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.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

Florida Correctional Facilities, Report 19-08, October 2019

Where can I get more information?

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


Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Sections 20.315 (Organizational Structure), 944.705 (Release Orientation Program), 944.706 (Basic Release Assistance), 944.707 (Post-Release Special Services), 944.801 (Education for State Prisoners), and 944.803 (Faith- and Character-Based Programs), Florida Statutes; and Rule 33.501, Florida Administrative Code

Whom do I contact for help?

Department of Corrections, 850-488-7052
Website