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Rick Scott, Governor
Florida Department of Corrections, Secretary Michael D. Crews

Florida Department of Corrections
Michael D. Crews, Secretary

Status Report on Female Offenders
1998 - 2003
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Florida's Female Offenders Plan

As of the end of FY 1998-99, female offenders in the state system accounted for 5.3 percent of Florida's total offender population. Recognizing the need to address this growing population, the Department of Corrections has written and adopted the Operational Plan For Female Offenders. From inception to transition, the Florida Department of Corrections is committed to the continuous development and maintenance of a seamless delivery system of programs and services designed to meet the specific needs of female offenders.

One of the department's primary goals is to address the needs of female offenders in an integrated and comprehensive approach to enable women, upon release, to effectively care for themselves and their families without returning to crime or criminal activity. We cannot overlook state and national data indicating that over 90 percent of offenders are released and return to their communities. Approximately 80 percent of the women in prison are mothers and most were single caretakers of minor children prior to incarceration. The goals, objectives, and methods set forth in the Operational Plan For Female Offenders present a continuum of programs and services specific to female offenders. They are designed to help women develop knowledge and skills that will permit them to become self-reliant and self-sufficient contributing members of their families and communities. Assisting female offenders to become positive family role models and caretakers is expected to reduce the chances of their own children in becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

Priority Issues of the Plan

  1. Ensure that the specific needs of female offenders are met throughout the correctional system.
  2. Develop a continuum of programs and services that fosters personal growth, accountability, maturity, and value-based actions that lead to successful reintegration into society.
  3. Ensure opportunities for female offenders to develop vocational and job-related skills that support their capacity for economic freedom.
  4. Prepare all institutional and community corrections staff to understand and appropriately address female gender-specific topics and issues.
  5. Ensure broad public access to Department of Corrections' information specific to female offenders' issues and related topics.
  6. Ensure a holistic approach for meeting appropriate physiological, psychological, and substance abuse needs of female offenders.
  7. Foster staff attitudes and actions that demonstrate professionalism and encourage an atmosphere that promotes opportunities for the positive self-development of the female offender.
  8. Foster maintenance of family and community relationships to reduce recidivism and promote the positive self-development of the female offender.
The following statistics give a more detailed description of Florida's female population.

FEMALE OFFENDER BREAKDOWN
BY RACE - 6/30/99

RACE

NUMBER

PERCENT

WHITE

1,587

43.7

BLACK

1,894

52.1

OTHER

152

4.2

TOTAL

3,633

100

 

FEMALE OFFENDER BREAKDOWN
BY AGE - 6/30/99

CATEGORY

WHITE
FEMALES

BLACK
FEMALES

OTHER
FEMALES

TOTAL

PERCENTAGE

16 & Below

1

0

0

1

0.03

17

6

11

2

19

0.52

18

4

21

0

25

0.69

19

14

40

2

56

1.54

20

23

31

3

57

1.57

21

27

50

6

83

2.28

22

27

63

6

96

2.64

23

33

46

5

84

2.31

24

48

49

3

100

2.75

25-29

239

292

17

548

15.08

30-34

333

424

37

794

21.86

35-39

346

434

31

811

22.32

40-44

271

242

20

533

14.67

45-49

101

118

13

232

6.39

50-54

61

37

4

102

2.81

55-59

26

19

1

46

1.27

60-64

10

10

2

22

0.61

65-69

10

5

0

15

0.41

70 and over

7

2

0

9

0.25

TOTAL

1,587

1,894

152

3,633

100.00

Source: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis

 

FEMALE OFFENDER
PRIMARY OFFENSES - 6/30/99

CATEGORY

TOTAL

PERCENTAGE

MURDER
MANSLAUGHTER

578

15.9

SEXUAL
OFFENSES

42

1.2

ROBBERY

304

8.4

VIOLENT
PERSONAL

583

16.0

BURGLARY

395

10.9

PROPERTY THEFT
FRAUD
DAMAGE

517

14.2

DRUGS

1,061

29.2

WEAPONS

44

1.2

OTHER
OFFENSES

109

3.0

TOTAL

3,633

100

Source: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis

 

PRIOR COMMITMENTS TO THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (6/30/99)

CATEGORY

WHITE
FEMALE

BLACK
FEMALE

OTHER
FEMALE

TOTAL

PERCENTAGE

NONE

1,144

974

136

2,254

62.04

1

254

409

9

672

18.5

2

106

245

4

355

9.77

3

61

140

2

203

5.59

4

14

80

1

95

2.61

5

8

26

0

34

0.94

6

0

16

0

16

0.44

7

0

3

0

3

0.08

9+

0

1

0

1

0.03

TOTAL

1,587

1,894

152

3,633

100

Source: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis
Status Report on Female Offenders
1998 - 2003
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