Florida Department of Corrections Banner, Secretary Mark S. Inch

 

December 29, 2021

Contact: FDC Communications
(850) 488-0420
 

FDC Celebrates Commitment to Public Safety and Innovative Programs
The Florida Department of Corrections Highlights 2021 Accomplishments

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Secretary Ricky Dixon highlighted accomplishments the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) made in 2021 to advance restoration efforts, provide educational opportunities and further FDC’s commitment to public safety.

“Despite unprecedented challenges over the last two years, our staff’s commitment to excellence never wavered. With the continued support from Governor DeSantis and the Legislature, the agency has begun to aggressively target retention and recruitment of our officers, while also implementing new programs to expand educational and career opportunities for inmates,” said Secretary Ricky Dixon. “I am proud of the hardworking women and men across our agency and their accomplishments and look forward to the upcoming year as we develop new plans for the agency and the great people of the state of Florida.”

Created the Roadmap to Restoration Initiative

  • Assesses existing community-based resources for returning citizens, identifies and overcomes service gaps, and formalizes the system to ensure a smooth transition from prison to community.
  • Provides an organized and streamlined transition from prison to community while engaging faith-based networks and other community resources critical to rehabilitation and restoration.
  • Read more here: ICYMI: Florida Department of Corrections Hosts Roadmap to Restoration Event

    Expanded Career and Technical Services Education (CTE)

  • Increased the number of vocational and industrial certificates earned (over 4,500 certificates earned in 2021).
  • Added 35 additional CTE programs statewide.
  • Helped inmates return to their communities with the entry-level job skills needed to productively contribute to Florida’s communities.
  • Reinforced a Zero-Tolerance Policy for All Forms of Sexual Abuse

  • Ensures the reporting person’s right to be free from retaliation after reporting an incident or participating in an investigation.
  • All institutions comply with national standards to prevent, detect and respond to prison rape under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Many have exceeded the nationally required standards as documented on the FDC’s public website: PREA.
  • Applies to incidents involving inmates, staff members, contractors, and volunteers.
  • Implemented Short Sentence Correctional Institutions

  • Designed for newly committed inmates with less than a year remaining to serve on their sentence, who would benefit from being separated from the general population with longer commitments.
  • Short stay participants are paired with inmate mentors serving longer sentences who have volunteered to live among participants and provide guidance and support.
  • Participants receive general education and self-betterment classes designed to lower recidivism and promote pre-release planning for a successful reintegration into society.
  • Read more in the November/December issue of Corrections Today: Mentorship at the Florida Department of Corrections

    Expanded the Alternative Sanctioning Program Statewide

  • Offers an administrative method of resolving technical violations for offenders on probation in an efficient and timely manner.
  • Has helped reduce the number of offenders with technical violations from being sentenced to prison by approximately 2,000 individuals a year.
  • Maintains public safety and accountability by assessing non-compliance on a case-by-case basis.
  • Expanded Incentivized Correctional Institutions

  • Two additional institutions began transitioning inmates, programming and infrastructure to become incentivized correctional institutions.
  • Once completed, these seven institutions will serve as progressive facilities which afford inmates the opportunity to complete their sentence with a population of likeminded individuals in a low stress environment that encourages wellness and healthy lifestyles.
  • .
  • Has proven to be highly successful in enhancing staff and inmate safety through a more positive living environment.
  • Improved the Correctional Officer Basic Recruit Academy

  • Increased training bandwidth and implemented open-enrollment academies allowing new officers to be placed into an academy within two weeks of hire.
  • More efficient training cycles will increase the number of certified correctional officers working in correctional institutions, making institutions safer and reducing officer attrition.
  • Improved Medical Processes by Implementing Electronic Medical Records

  • Increases time for staff to dedicate to the provision of health care services, reducing the time required to respond to grievance appeals and inmate health care inquiries
  • Allows for instant access to medical records by Regional and Central Office clinical staff.
  • Creates large-scale analytics and insight reports which will lead to additional efficiencies and improvements.
  • Enhanced the Wellness Education Program

  • Added three expanded wellness programs for inmates (health and nutrition, sports training, and personal training).
  • Partnered with two new vendors (National Federation of Personal Trainers and America Sports and Fitness Association) who will provide course work and industry-recognized certifications inmates can use to obtain gainful employment upon release.
  • Expanded sports and fitness programs at 24 institutions, training more than 80 inmate sports officials, and assigning 72 inmate wellness aides.
  • Using inmate welfare trust funds, every institution received new recreation equipment to expand wellness programs.
  • Continued to Earn American Correctional Association (ACA) Accreditation

  • Maintained long-held tradition adherence to standards developed by the ACA.
  • Evaluated operations against national standards, remedied deficiencies and upgraded the quality of correctional programs.
  • Community Corrections achieved 100% in all mandatory and non-mandatory standards and nine institutions due for assessment earned reaccreditation.
  • Developed an Interstate Compact State Council

  • Ensures continuity of supervision for offenders on probation transferring in to and out of Florida.
  • Provides strategic guidance to the professionals charged with public safety and offender supervision, and ensures offenders are accountable to victims.
  • Council members educate and collaborate with stakeholders and like agencies to foster understanding.
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    As Florida's largest state agency, and the third largest state prison system in the country, FDC employs 24,000 members, incarcerates 80,000 inmates and supervises nearly 146,000 offenders in the community.

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