Florida's Female Offenders Plan

As of the end of FY 2000-2001, female offenders in the state system accounted for 5.9 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 - 6/30/01

RACE	NUMBER	PERCENT
WHITE	1,935	45.6
BLACK	2,067	48.7
OTHER	242	5.7
TOTAL	4,244	100

 

FEMALE OFFENDER BREAKDOWN BY AGE - 6/30/01

CATEGORY	WHITE FEMALES	BLACK FEMALES	OTHER FEMALES	TOTAL	PERCENTAGE
16 & Below	0	10	1	11	0.26
17	2	16	0	18	0.42
18	7	13	5	25	0.59
19	19	23	3	45	1.06
20	22	46	4	72	1.70
21	37	62	8	107	2.52
22	42	54	2	98	2.31
23	43	56	9	108	2.54
24	48	67	10	125	2.95
25-29	252	314	40	606	14.28
30-34	359	396	37	792	18.66
35-39	455	442	40	937	22.08
40-44	345	320	39	704	16.59
45-49	186	154	26	366	8.62
50-54	59	53	9	121	2.85
55-59	32	22	8	62	1.46
60-64	12	11	1	24	0.57
65-69	12	3	0	15	0.35
70 and over	3	5	0	8	0.19
TOTAL	1,935	2,067	152	4,244	100.00
Source: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis

FEMALE OFFENDER PRIMARY OFFENSES - 6/30/01

CATEGORY	TOTAL	PERCENTAGE
MURDER/ MANSLAUGHTER	626	14.8
SEXUAL OFFENSES	70	1.7
ROBBERY	336	7.9
VIOLENT PERSONAL	641	15.1
BURGLARY	390	9.2
PROPERTY THEFT/ FRAUD/DAMAGE	733	17.3
DRUGS	1,234	29.1
WEAPONS	50	1.2
OTHER OFFENSES	160	3.8
TOTAL	4,240*	100
Source: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis * Data unknown for 4 females

PRIOR COMMITMENTS TO THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (6/30/01)

CATEGORY	WHITE FEMALE	BLACK FEMALE	OTHER FEMALE	TOTAL	PERCENTAGE
NONE	1,442	1,162	203	2,807	66.14
1	273	400	27	700	16.49
2	123	231	9	363	8.55
3	52	137	2	191	4.50
4	37	81	1	119	2.80
5	6	30	0	36	0.85
6	1	18	0	19	0.45
7	1	5	0	6	0.14
9+	0	3	0	3	0.07
TOTAL	1,935	2,067	242	4,244	100
Source: Bureau of Research and Data Analysis