NCJ Number
46921
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
FACILITY DESIGN, AND INSTITUTIONAL AND DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY FLORIDA IN AN ATTEMPT TO COPE WITH THE RAPIDLY INCREASING PRISON POPULATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
PRIOR TO 1974, THE FLORIDA INMATE POPULATION HAD BEEN INCREASING AT A RATE OF ABOUT 600 PER YEAR. HOWEVER, IN 1974 THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 1,028; IN 1975 THE INCREASE WAS 4,294 (AN INCREASE GREATER THAN THE TOTAL COMBINED INMATE POPULATION OF 32 STATES); AND IN 1976 THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF 2,340. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE INCREASES INCLUDE RECESSION, HIGH CRIME RATES, MORE PUNITIVE PUBLIC ATTITUDES, AND DECREASES IN THE USE OF PROBATION. THE INCREASE IN INMATE POPULATION COUPLED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT FACILITIES TO MEET NEEDS. METHODS OF COPING INCLUDED THE ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES SUCH AS A HOSPITAL, AN AIR BASE, AND A MIGRANT LABOR CAMP AND THEIR CONVERSION TO MEET THE CORRECTIONAL NEEDS OF SPECIFIC INMATE POPULATIONS; THE UTILIZATION OF TEMPORARY FACILITIES INCLUDING MOBILE HOMES, A WAREHOUSE, AND TENTS; THE EXPANSION OF NINE EXISTING FACILITIES; AND PLANNED EQUALIZATION OF OVERCROWDING AMONG EXISTING FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, NEW CONSTRUCTION PLANNING WAS INITIATED. IT WAS DECIDED TO LOCATE NEW FACILITIES ON STATE-OWNED OR DONATED LAND. NEW FACILITIES ARE TO BE DESIGNED FOR AN INMATE POPULATION OF 600, WITH A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 900. THE LOCATION OF FACILITIES IN URBAN AREAS IS NOT FEASIBLE; HOWEVER, RURAL LOCATIONS WILL PROBABLY BE LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE WHICH IS ALSO WHERE THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF THE INMATES COME FROM. A PROTOTYPIC 600-BED DESIGN WHICH WOULD BE FUNCTIONAL AND AUSTERE, AND WHICH COULD BE DUPLICATED, WAS FORMULATED. USE OF THE PROTOTYPE SHOULD SAVE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION, AND MANAGEMENT TIME, REDUCE COSTS, AND RESULT IN AN IMPROVED END PRODUCT. AS A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC MOOD AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATION, FLORIDA HAS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO DEPART FROM THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION DESIGN STANDARDS ADVOCATED BY THE LEAA CLEARINGHOUSE IN ILLINOIS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF AIR-CONDITIONING IS TO BE A DESIGN FEATURE, FACILITIES SHOULD BE DESIGNED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT NATURAL VENTILATION CAN ALSO BE USED WHEN DESIRABLE. INMATE LABOR HAS BEEN USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, WITH SOME SMALLER BUILDINGS BEING ENTIRELY CONSTRUCTED BY INMATES UNDER DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SUPERVISION. A MORE FREQUENTLY USED METHOD HAS BEEN TO SUPPLY INMATE LABORERS TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS IN EXCHANGE FOR A LABOR COST REDUCTION. INMATE LABORERS ARE REIMBURSED FOR WORK WITH EXTRA GAIN-TIME. THIS HAS SAVED OVER $350,000 SINCE JANUARY 1976 AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE DESIRABLE EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE BY PARTICIPATING INMATES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUCCESS OF A CORRECTIONAL POLICY WILL DEPEND ON CONSCIENTIOUS UTILIZATION OF BOTH INCARCERATION AND DIVERSION. (JAP)