Report February 18 2012 Tryon Library The Problem The Study Rehabilitation Programs State County Community Report Conclusion 23 million prisoners the United States leads the world in incarceration ID: 318517
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Study of Expansion of Rehabilitation Programs for Inmates in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties Report
February 18, 2012
Tryon LibrarySlide2
The Problem
The Study
Rehabilitation Programs
StateCountyCommunityReport ConclusionSlide3
2.3 million prisoners
, the United States leads the world in incarceration.
1 in 100 adults
in this country are in jail or prison.State of Florida operates the third largest prison system in the United States.
Department of Corrections oversees just over 104,000 inmates around the state in public or private prisons, in addition to
150,000 individuals
under community supervision.Slide4
Approximately 88% of inmates will be released from prison or jail at some time in their lives.
1/3 of these individuals
will be rearrested and return to prison, or recidivate, within 3 years of their release.
Rehabilitative programs such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, educational and vocational training, and post-release support have been shown to reduce recidivism. Slide5
State of Florida has
:
62 prisons
45 work camps 1 treatment facility33 work release centers 5 road prisons 67 jails are under local control
Services are fragmented some facilities offer substance abuse treatment, some offer vocational training and some offer mental health services.
None provides the full range of services needed by the inmates housed there.Slide6Slide7
The study began in March 2010
Follow-up of the League’s position of support for
“a criminal justice system that emphasizes rehabilitation and alternatives to incarceration.”
Committee members visited the facilities and agencies in question and interviewed prison, jail and agency staff as well as community volunteers.Neither Juvenile Justice nor the Federal System were explored in this studySlide8
Local State Structures in
Escambia & Santa Rosa
Century Correctional Institution
Work Camp Work Release Program Berrydale Forestry Camp
Santa Rosa Correctional Institution & Annex
Blackwater River Correctional Facility (privately operated)
Rehabilitation Programs
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
General Equivalency Diploma (GED) prep
100 hour transition program
DCF &CDAC program
Modality Unit
Life Skills
Vocational Training
Mental Health ServicesSlide9
Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, life skills, parenting, GED instruction, computer classes as well as self-help classes.
A program to divert mentally ill inmates from incarceration into a treatment program.
Women’s Reentry Assistance Program (WRAP)
Escambia County Jail Rehabilitation ProgramsSlide10
Escambia County Road Prison
Rehabilitation Programs
In 2010 inmates were required to have a GED to participate in training programs
Working in partnership with George Stone Vocational Center, inmates were offered programs in carpentry, welding, horticulture and plumbing. 100 to 150 hours in programs.
Attended three 10-hour classes per week and participated on work crews on the remaining two workdays.Slide11
Voluntary programs are offered, including
AA
and
GED preparation. Anger management classes are voluntary or can be ordered by a judge when the inmate is sentenced.A faith-based program, The Most Excellent Way
Santa Rosa County Jail Rehabilitation ProgramsSlide12
Pathways for Change
Founded in 2005 as a sentencing alternative for individuals with substance use disorders.
28 court-ordered men at a time
The men complete 9, 12 or 18 months of treatmentRehabilitation Programs12 Step fellowships
individual and family counselingJob readiness training, communication and relationship skills
Anger resolution and conflict resolution training
Budgeting and financial literacy classes, access to educational and vocational programs
Case management,
Assistance with housing placement.Slide13
Reentry Taskforce of Northwest Florida
Began April 2009 as a coalition of individuals from public, private and faith-based organizations in the two counties.
100 volunteers to collaborate, coordinate and develop services with the goal of reducing recidivism among prison inmates.
Taskforce Sub-Committees
Employment
Housing
Behavioral Health
Families’ and Children’s Services
Gang Reduction
Veterans
AdvocacySlide14
Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries
Operation Fresh Start
New Life Ministries
A Will and A Way, Inc.M & A Community Outreach Center
Other Community Rehabilitation ProgramsSlide15
Report conclusionSlide16
Taxpayers spend 3 times more per year to house an inmate than to educate a student.
Committee’s research found good programs in the two-county area, they are inadequate to meet the existing need.
Community programs are small and lack steady sources of dedicated, recurrent and sufficient funding.
Provide needed services, unable to fill the gap left by the public programs.Slide17
If the government is running prisons and jails there is an
incentive
to spend taxpayers’ money wisely and reduce expenditures by reducing the inmate population.
Recent moves to privatize more state prisons makes this committee question whether the private sector will be motivated toward rehabilitation which would decrease the number of inmates they receive and, hence, their profits. Slide18
Critical Need Areas Identified by Committee
Complications that released inmates face in getting sufficient state-issued identification
Without a valid form of identification, inmates cannot obtain employment, even at day labor sites, nor can they rent a room or receive services from a social service agency.
Lack of access to temporary housing for people recently released. Former inmates need safe, affordable housing where they can stay while they are getting back on their feet.Slide19
Strictly from a financial viewpoint, providing rehabilitation programs to inmates is a good use of resources.
The vast majority of
inmates
will return to our communities at some time.Education with an emphasis on vocational programs will make our communities safer and save taxpayer dollars by
reducing recidivism.Slide20
QUESTIONS???
Download full report by visiting
www.lwvpba.org