- What's the difference between a jail and a prison?
-
The most notable difference is that jails are generally
managed by the county and prisons are generally managed by the state.
In addition, jail inmates may be awaiting sentencing, and
prison inmates have already been convicted and sentenced, usually
for a felony. Finally, jail inmates usually are sentenced to a year
or less, whereas prison inmates usually have sentences of
more than a year.
- What is the current recidivism
rate?
-
Our most recent report tracked offenders released from FY88-89 to FY93-94,
and followed their progress for the next two years. For offenders
released from prison during FY93-94, the recidivism rate is 18%, which is
a 21.7 point drop from the recidivism rate of offenders released in
FY88-89 (39.7%). For a copy of the report, visit our website at http://www.dc.state.fl.us/data.html
or call (850) 410-4482.
- How many prisons does Florida
have?
-
On June 30, 1997, Florida had a total of 132
correctional facilities: 60 major institutions (prisons), including five
privately run (contract) prisons; 26 work camps adjacent to its
prisons; 31 community correctional centers (work release
facilities); seven stand-alone work or forestry camps; one state-run
and two private drug treatment centers and five road prisons.
- How much does it cost to incarcerate an inmate for a
year?
-
In FY96-97 it cost $17,958 to feed, clothe, house, educate
and provide medical services for an inmate for a year at a
major prison.
- How many inmates are in Florida prisons? On
death row? On community supervision like
probation?
-
On June 30, 1997, there were 64,713 inmates in Florida
prisons and 380 on death row. Of the 142,911 on community
supervision on June 30, 1997, the majority (102,136) were on probation.
- I am a crime victim and my family and I wish to be
notified when a certain inmate is released. Who do I contact and
how?
-
You contact the Department of Corrections' Victim Services section at
2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500. Be sure to include the
names, addresses and phone numbers of those who wish to be notified of the
inmate's release. The Victim Services office number is (850) 488-9166.
You may also sign up by website at http://www.dc.state.fl.us/security/admission/victasst.html
- What is the Web address for information on released
inmates?
-
The address is: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/
Choose either sexual predators or early releases from this site.
- How does the department decide which inmates
receive substance abuse treatment?
-
The DC currently screens inmates and places them in
the appropriate (Tier) Substance Abuse Program based on
the inmate's need and readiness for treatment, their
sentence structure, program availability and institutional needs
or constraints. The number for the Bureau of Substance
Abuse Treatment is (850) 410-4434.
- How may I verify that my family member is
participating in the substance abuse program at the facility where he
or she is housed?
-
Due to confidentiality requirements, the program or
institutional staff cannot confirm inmates' participation in substance
abuse treatment services. The inmates may divulge
information regarding their individual treatment issues to anyone they
wish, but they are prohibited from sharing information about
other program participants.
- I keep getting letters from an inmate, and I'm afraid
he might call me. What can I do to stop this?
-
All inmate phone calls are collect calls, so you can simply refuse
to accept the charges. To stop an inmate from writing you,
you may write or call the superintendent at the prison where
the letters originated and ask that they be stopped. The names
of prison superintendents, addresses and numbers of all
prison facilities are located in the back of this annual report. An
inmate who continues to write after being asked to stop will
be disciplined and could lose gaintime.
- My son is being harassed in prison, and I fear for
his safety. Who can I report this to?
-
Start by reporting it to the prison superintendent. Each
facility has an Institutional Inspector who will investigate your concerns.
If the situation is not resolved to your satisfaction, you
may want to write to the Office of the Inspector General, 2601
Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500. Provide
detailed information of your concerns.
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