Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannOctober 19, 2016

In making its case to end third-party nonprofit drug abuse treatment and counseling for soon-to-be-released prisoners, the Florida Department of Corrections relied on false cost analysis and misleading statements. Daniel Ducassi of POLITICO Florida reports on newly released documents showing plans to cut nearly 700 so-called “transition” beds for prisoners in community-based facilities leading up to their […]

Larry GriffinSeptember 28, 2016

The Florida Department of Corrections came under fire earlier this week when Bridges of America, who partner with them to help inmates rehabilitate into the world, accused them of trying to shut down their off-site transition center on Mercy Drive. But according to the FDOC, the Bridges of America’s alarm, while rooted in good intent, […]

Scott PowersSeptember 27, 2016

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings Tuesday urged state officials to reconsider their decision to close community-based transition centers. Demings, a Democrat seeking re-election this fall, was responding to reports that the Florida Department of Corrections intends to close the Orlando Transition Center and others around that state, eliminating 688 community-based substance abuse treatment beds. “Research indicates […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 27, 2016

Bridges of America and the Department of Corrections are at it again. As Florida Politics’ Jim Rosica reported Monday, Bridges and the DOC are once more warring over transitional programs for the state’s inmates. This isn’t the first time Lori Costantino-Brown, president and chief executive officer of Bridges of America, and Corrections Secretary Julie Jones had a high-profile scuffle. A […]

Larry GriffinSeptember 26, 2016

A group of state and local elected officials, as well as reformed ex-prisoners who know firsthand what the Bridges of America Orlando Transition Center can do, appeared Monday morning to protest the possible closing of the center by the Florida Department of Corrections. The center is being considered for closure due to what Bridges of […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2016

A 32-year-old Florida man has been arrested and is facing a charge of arson with a hate crime enhancement in connection with a fire that heavily damaged the mosque that Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen occasionally attended, authorities announced Wednesday. Joseph Michael Schreiber was arrested without incident Wednesday afternoon and was being interrogated by investigators […]

Associated PressSeptember 8, 2016

The Florida Department of Corrections says hundreds of inmates created a major disturbance at a Holmes County prison. The department said the prison remained on lockdown Thursday after the incident the night before, but the disturbance has been resolved. One prisoner injured another inmate during the incident, but no staff was hurt. The department is […]

Guest AuthorMay 18, 2016

I believe in second chances. It’s what I do. Everyone, including my late father, makes mistakes. Some of those mistakes, like my father’s mistakes, mean prison time. That’s why every year the Florida Department of Corrections releases about 30,000 men and women from prison. But for the vast majority of them, it doesn’t include a […]

Drew WilsonApril 1, 2016

The Florida Department of Corrections announced Friday that it planned to hire thousands of correctional officers during the coming year, despite lawmakers telling the department it should rein in spending. “Properly staffing our institutions is critical to the safe and secure operations of our facilities,” FDOC Secretary Julie Jones said in a news release. “To […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 16, 2016

In a pivotal scene from the vastly underrated movie “Heat,” the cop-and-robber characters portrayed by Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro go rat-a-tat-tat with each other over why certain men commit crimes. The robbery-homicide detective portrayed by Pacino cannot help but admire the discipline of the highline burglar found in DeNiro’s Neil McCauley character, yet he doesn’t really understand […]

Tag: Florida Department of Corrections

DOC used faulty cost analysis, misstatements in plan to cut nonprofit prisoner drug treatment facilities

Florida DOC denies trying to shut down Bridges of America center

Jerry Demings urges state to keep open community facilities

One reason to support Bridges of America in its latest dust-up with the Department of Corrections

State, local officials join ex-prisoners to protest proposed closing Bridges of America center

Authorities: Arrest made in arson fire at Florida mosque

Attica remembered? Florida quells major prison disturbance

Bridges of America settles, but still helps inmates

Department of Corrections to go on hiring binge

Take a breath before casting judgment on prison health care contract