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Horizon + faith & character
initiatives = more positive prison culture &
outcomes
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Horizon
programs focus on mentoring, education,
family strengthening and transition
preparation. Programs are facilitated by
volunteers. See
www.horizoncommunities.org
and
www.wakullacivolunteers.org.
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Ten years
ago the House corrections committee and Rep.
Allen Trovillion addressed the dangerous
level of recidivism in prisons. Focus on
education and job skills, faith community
volunteers and family ties for successful
reentry.
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In 1999
DOC pioneers faith-based dorm program with
at Tomoka CI, a foundation funded 2-year
pilot program with Horizon. Early positive
outcomes.
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In 2001
landmark legislation addresses transition
and community links in prisons, expanding
faith-based dorm program to 6 additional
prisons. Ch 944.803 FS. New dorm programs
opened, recognized as “positive subcultures”
within the prisons. \
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In
December 2004 Governor Bush announces change
of Lawtey CI, a 600-bed medium security
prison, to a faith & character based
facility. The goal is a positive culture
within an entire prison. The legal and
operational issues are carefully addressed.
Deep cuts to education and programs in DOC
slow progress but the faith& character
initiative continues with strong community
support.
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Beginning
in 2005 Legislature provides contract
funding for Horizon inside and outside
volunteer coordinators for Tomoka CI and
Wakulla CI. ($140,000). The Legislature
continues the funding in 2006 and 2007.
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In
November 2005 the governor announces that
Wakulla CI, a 1500-bed maximum security
prison, will become a faith &
character-based facility.
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Research
shows positive impact of faith & character
initiative on disciplinary reports (DRs) and
recidivism, the two key measurements. DOC
web site includes monthly reports on
outcomes reflect reduction in DRs of
approximately 40%.
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Recidivism
rates in the department are in the 35%
range. As return rates are usually reported
for a 36 month period after release,
recidivism figures for faith & character-
based programs are still preliminary.
However, the DOC monthly reports are
positive. Since 3/1/06 at total of 493
inmates have been released from Wakulla CI
and 30 persons have been returned to
incarceration within the department. This is
a return rate of 6% per cent for 16 months.
The current recidivism rate for Lawtey CI is
8%, measured from 12/24/03 to 5/31/07.
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Recently
the final report of the Governor’s Task
Force recommended that faith & character
prisons be expanded to help create a more
positive prison culture. A front page NY
Times article in December 2006 named Florida
as the one state in the country that “got it
right” with faith-based prison programs and
First Amendment church & state issues.
As more inmates from
a more positive prison culture – such as Wakulla
CI faith & character facility - transition back
into our communities in a coordinated system,
both the danger of new crimes and the high cost
of new prison beds can be cut significantly. At
Wakulla CI and other faith and character-based
prison programs, these new prison models are
working.
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September 2009 News of the Month
including Education/Transition
and Chapel
Schedules
Horizon REEFS July 2009 at Wakulla CI
Research and
Policy
Volunteer Application
Prison Mentoring
DOC
Procedure 560.032
Faith & Character-based Institution
Resource
Links
Florida Department of Corrections
Faith- and
Character-Based Institutions
Wakulla Correctional Institution
Center for
Biblical Studies
The Islamic Center of
Tallahassee
Temple Israel
Faith Baptist Church
Good Shepherd
Catholic Church
Harvest of Life
Ministries
Christian
Heritage Church
Epiphany Lutheran Church
Bethel Missionary Baptist
Church
Tallahassee
Equality Action Ministry (TEAM)
Economic &
Workforce Development
Workforce Florida
Horizon Communities in
Prison
Celebrate Recovery -
Killearn United Methodist Church
Horizon Communities
in Prison
Horizon
Communities in Prison seeks to prepare prisoners
to
live responsibly with others.
Horizon Communities in
Prison Web Link
http://horizoncommunities.org
Horizon Communities
Contact
Hugh MacMillan 321-7071 cell,
222-5155 office
hughmacmillan@earthlink.net
Tallahassee Office:
The Sara and John
Edward Smith Building
2245 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee,
FL 32301
News Articles
Florida inmates may do
less hard time -
Gainesville Sun
8/25/07
Largest Faith Based
Prison Opened by Gov. Bush in Wakulla County - Wakulla News
11/26/05
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