Imperative V: Ensure Inmates and Offenders are Prepared for Successful Reentry into Communities Statewide

The Florida Department of Corrections is committed to reducing crime in the state’s communities by reducing recidivism. Program services designed to reduce recidivism include substance abuse treatment and programs that address literacy, adult basic education, life coping skills and workforce readiness during incarceration. Additionally, reentry strategies have included the establishment of reentry centers, a Reentry Advisory Council as well as expanding faith and character-based residential programs. The Department forges community and faith-based partnerships to address the needs of the inmate during incarceration and the ex-offender upon his or her return to society. This imperative focuses on intervention services that provide inmates and offenders with programs and support that enhance their successful reentry into Florida’s communities.

Goal 1: Prepare inmates for appropriate institutional adjustment, transition, and reentry into the community

Key Performance Indicators:

1. Recidivism rates for inmates receiving reentry services
2. Percentage of inmates entering incarceration and undergoing comprehensive needs assessment.
3. Number of Reentry Centers
4. Percentage/number of inmates participating in faith and character-based programs
5. Number of inmates participating in substance abuse treatment
6. Number of inmates earning GED certificates
7. Number of inmates placed in a facility that provides at least one documented primary program need (e.g., substance abuse)
8. Number of inmates completing career and technical education programs
9. Evaluation of reentry partnership agreements

Strategic Objectives:

1. Reduce inmate recidivism rate from its baseline of 32.8% to 20 % by 2014.
2. By October 1, 2010, and on an annual basis, conduct formal needs assessments using the Correctional Integrated Needs Assessment System (CINAS) on 90 percent of inmate admissions.
3. Beginning January 1, 2010, increase the number of Re-Entry Centers by 10 percent annually through 2015 from a baseline of two in 2009 (Demilly Correctional Institution and Baker Correctional Institution.).
4. Increase the percentage/number of inmates participating in faith and character-based programs annually from the FY 2008-2009 baseline.
5. Increase the number of inmates participating in substance abuse treatment programs by 10 % annually from a baseline of 4,902 inmates receiving primary treatment and 39,361 receiving screening assessments for FY 2008-09.
6. Increase the number of inmates receiving GED awards by 5 % annually from a baseline of 1,953 GED awards in FY 2008-09.
7. On an annual basis, increase the percentage of inmates placed in a facility that provides at least one of the inmate’s program needs from the 2009 baseline.
8. Increase the number of inmates participating in and completing vocational and technical education certificate programs by 5 % annually from a baseline of 1,562 certificate earners in FY 2008-09.
9. By July 1, 2012, evaluate 100 % of the partnership agreements with agencies/organizations that affect reentry for effectiveness as measured by a validated assessment tool.

Goal 2: Provide offenders under supervision with assistance needed to aid, encourage, and bring about improvement in their conduct and condition

Key Performance Indicators:

1. Recidivism rate for offenders under supervision (i.e., those who complete supervision and, subsequently, reoffend within 3 years).
2. Number of offenders who successfully complete court ordered treatment (substance abuse, mental health, sex offender)
3. Degree to which referrals address offender needs in education and other self-improvement programming

Strategic Objectives:

1. Reduce offender recidivism rate from its baseline of 20% to 10.7% by 2014.
2. Increase the number of offenders who successfully complete court ordered treatment (substance abuse, mental health, and sex offender) by 2 % annually from a baseline of 19,210 in FY 2008-09.
3. Increase documented referrals by 2 % annually that address offender needs in education and other selfimprovement programming from a baseline rate of 163,736 referrals as of September 15, 2009.

Goal 3: Improve employment opportunities for inmates and offenders

Key Performance Indicators:

1. Number of inmates participating in Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE) and Prison Industry Enhancement (PIE) programs
2. Number of inmates in work release programs
3. Number of community work squads
4. Supervised offender employment rate

Strategic Objectives:

1. Increase the number of inmates participating in PRIDE and PIE programs by 5 % annually from a baseline rate of 2.1 % as of January, 2009.
2. Increase the percent of the total inmate population in work release programs to 4 % from a baseline rate of 3.6% as of January, 2009.
3. Annually increase the number of inmates assigned to community work squads by 5 % from a baseline rate of 4.7% as of January, 2009.
4. Annually increase supervised offender employment rates by 2 % from a baseline rate of 58.26% as of January, 2009.