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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2367 |
| Reinvest in Prison Education & Programs/ DOC Region I |
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| Requester: |
Hugh MacMillan,Allison DeFoor, Lester Abberger, Bill Woolley |
Organization: |
Horizon Communities Corp |
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| Project Title: |
Reinvest in Prison Education & Programs/ DOC Region I |
Date Submitted |
1/14/2005 10:45:11 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Argenziano, Lawson |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| Nineteen (19) prisons are located in DOC Region I, extending from Escambia County to Jefferson County. These prisons are essential to the public safety of all of Florida and they are important components of the economies of their local communities. In recent years, inmate populations have increased and funding for essential education and programs in prisons has been cut by approximately 30%. The extent and consequences of these cuts, resulting from state budget restraints, is documented in the OPPAGA Report No. 04-59 "Corrections Education and Rehabilitative Programs Significantly Reduced", dated August 2004. Unintended consequences of elimination of education and program activities for inmates are: 1) employees work in a more dangerous workplace, and 2) chances of recidivism increase, resulting in higher cost and less public safety for Florida citizens. The present annual operating cost per inmate in Florida is $18,338. (House Committee on Justice Appropriations, January 13, 2005 report)
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| Recipient: |
Florida Department of Corrections |
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Contact: |
Hugh MacMillan |
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2601 Blair Stone Road |
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Contact Phone: |
(850) 321-7071 |
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Tallahassee 32399 |
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Contact email: |
hughmacmillan@earthlink.net |
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| Counties: |
Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| The Department of Corrections is divided into four regions. Region 1 extends from Escambia County to Jefferson County. The prisons in region I and the current educational program status are:
Apalachee-E CI closed
Apalachee-W CI Special Ed open
Bay CF private
Calhoun CI closed
Century CI closed
Gadsden CF private
Gulf CI closed
Gulf CI annex closed
Holmes CI Special Ed open
Jacson CI closed
Jefferson CI closed
Liberty CI closed
Okaloosa CI closed
Quincy Annex n/a
River Junction WC n/a
Santa Rosa CI Special Ed open
Wakulla CI closed
Walton CI closed
Washington CI closed.
Each of the closed facilities has academic classrooms and in many cases a state of the art computerized remediation program. Most facilities also have complete vocational shops.
Program request is to reinstate adult basic education, GED and vocational programs in all "closed" prisons, to be accomplished by the department by a combination of restoring staff cuts and outsourcing education services through one or more community colleges as fiscal/ contract agents.
OPPAGA Report No. 00-23 includes a detailed description of department education and program activity, including data on outcomes and recommended improvements. This proposal would seek to mobilize available resources to reestablish these programs in Region I and improve them through community partnerships with community colleges and qualified non profit organizations .
If and when successful, the program may be extended statewide, as the unmet need is statewide. Presently few federal dollars are included in DOC education and program efforts. A portion of increased available federal adult basic education funds and federal funds anticipated under the proposed Second Chance legislation are anticipated to increase federal funds levels and leverage the investment of general revenue in this project. Also community and faith based volunteer resources will be mobilized in support of the program, using the faith based dorm programs and similar programs authorized by statute and established by the department to further the education and program effort, providing an essential community link
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| Is this a project related to 2004 hurricane damage? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Increase in meaningful education, job training and work assignments for inmates will result in a safer prison environment by reducing inmate idleness and in improvements in successful re-entry back into society. Appropriate criteria and procedures for assessing outcomes for education in prison will be established in collaboration with DOC Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$5,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$5,000,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
None |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
OPPAGA Progress Report 04-59 August 2004 and Report No. 00-23, December 2000 "Review of the Departme |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Leon County Legislative Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
01/12/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
