Inmate Programs - Hillsborough County Sheriff`s Office

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Department of
Detention Services
Inmate Programs
“A Service to the Community”
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
MISSION
The Mission of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is to serve, protect
and defend the community while preserving the rights and dignity of all.
VISION
The Vision of the Hillborough County Sheriff’s Office is to provide effective,
efficient and professional law enforcement, detention and court
services while maintaining the highest standards of integrity,
accountability and community service.
CORE VALUES
Integrity
Service
Fairness and Equity
Commitment to Quality
TABLE OF CONTENTS
T
he main goal of the Inmate Programs Bureau is to provide offenders the opportunity to improve
their educational level, learn new work and life skills, and begin the treatment process to address substance abuse and domestic violence problems. A variety of religious services are also
available. All programs are designed to provide a constructive means for the self-improvement of
inmates while they are incarcerated and to prepare them for release and referral to similar community programs.
T
he programs listed on the following pages are available to inmates in Hillsborough County
Jails. In 2004, profits from the Inmate Canteen Fund paid $1,859,582 for all Sheriff’s Office staff
assigned to inmate programs. No tax dollars are expended for these services.
Educational Programs......................................................................................... 2-3
Carpentry Program ................................................................................................. 4
Culinary Arts Program ............................................................................................. 5
Computer Technology Academy .......................................................................... 6
Careers and Accommodations Training (CAT) .................................................... 7
Horticulture Program ............................................................................................... 8
Sewing and Alterations Program ........................................................................... 9
Substance Abuse Treatment Program............................................................10-11
Domestic Violence Program ................................................................................ 12
Life Skills Program .............................................................................................13-15
Religious Services .................................................................................................. 16
Library Services...................................................................................................... 17
Volunteers and Community Agencies ................................................................ 17
Grant Awards ......................................................................................................... 18
Quality of Service Recognition ............................................................................ 19
JAIL TV the Detention Learning Channel .............................................................20
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
S
taff members from the Hillsborough County School Board’s Special Adult Programs
have been providing educational services in
the jail system for more than 25
years.
Academic teachers provide literacy
and adult basic education, GED
preparation, Work Force Readiness
and English as a Second Language.
On average, nearly 900 inmates
are enrolled weekly in classes held
during the day and evening hours
It is not unusual for a teacher in
a jail setting to have inmates with
widely varying academic levels. As a result,
individualized instruction to meet the unique
needs of each adult learner is a necessity. To aid
students in their learning process, computerized
instruction is available in each classroom to
allow them to move individually at different
levels. Software programs include English as
a Second Language, Citizenship, Pre-GED and
Basic Skills and GED preparation. Work-based
Learning software focuses on academic skills
necessary to be successful on-the-job.
content areas: Literature and the Arts, Math,
Science, Social Studies, and Writing. Bi-weekly,
a State testing-agent administers the GED
test at a jail site. In the last 12
years, more than 3,500 inmates
have taken the test for a high
school diploma while they were
incarcerated
The Workforce Readiness
Program serves adult inmates
who are at least 16 years old
and legally withdrawn from a
K-12 program. Students learn
basic employability skills,
including setting career goals,
identifying job announcement sources, resume
preparation, job applications, cover letters,
interviewing techniques, pre-employment
testing and resignation procedures
Juvenile inmates under the age of 18, who
are in jail and hope to eventually return to high
In Adult Basic Education classes, inmates
learn basic skills in reading writing, and math.
In addition, inmates preparing to take the
GED exam must learn academic skills in five
school upon release, have the opportunity to
enroll in a specialized program provided by
the K-12 Non-Traditional Program. In these
classes juvenile inmates earn credit toward a
traditional diploma. Juveniles 16 years of age
or older with no plans of returning to a high
school setting can opt to attend classes to earn
a GED
2
Research completed through various grant
projects has shown inmates incarcerated
in Hillsborough County score on average at
a 6.5 grade level. However, after six weeks
of instr uction, inmates
show significant gains in
knowledge on post-tests,
scoring on average at a 8.04
grade level. This grade level
gain takes inmates closer
to an acceptable literacy
competency of ninth grade.
According to U.S. Department
of Labor statistics, “At least 7
out of every 10 inmates have
not completed high school.” Educational
programs within the jails are designed
to help lower-functioning inmates attain
functional literacy and higher-functioning
inmates the opportunity to prepare to take
the GED. Programs staff make every effort to
link inmates with educational programs in the
community upon their release from jail.
With the opening of the Orient Road Jail
in 1990, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s
Office and Hillsborough County School Board
partnered to implement vocational training
programs, beginning with Culinary Arts and
Ornamental Horticulture. Over the years
since, new programs for Carpentry, Sewing
& Alterations, Careers and Accommodations
Training, and Computer Technology have
been added. Working together, the two
agencies designed these programs to benefit
inmates through on-the-job training and to
demonstrate their value to
the community by providing
necessary jail services at no
cost to taxpayers.
program
Vo c a t i o n a l
par ticipation
is
voluntar y and inmates are
required to attend f ive
hours of vocational training
cla ss es
da ily
( MondayFr iday). P rograms involve
hands-on training and classroom instruction.
Each has 18-20 inmates enrolled on a daily
basis.
In addition to vocational training classes, all
enrolled inmates are required to participate in
Adult Basic Education, Employability Skills,
Personal Money Management, Parenting,
Workplace Conflict Resolution and Pathways
to Change. Social workers provide intensive
case management to
help inmates address
issues such as housing,
transportation, identification, counseling,
employ ment, and
further training. Upon
leaving the program,
trained
i n m at e s
are better prepared
to obtain gainful
employment and support themselves and their
families.
3
CARPENTRY PROGRAM
T
he Carpentry Program was started nine
years ago. Designed to teach inmates residential and commercial carpentry skills, it utilizes the nationally recognized Wheels of
Learning curriculum. Inmates
can continue with the program
once released from jail by
working for an employer who
will sponsor them through the
local American Builders and
Contractors Association.
The first major building project was the
construction of portable classrooms for
public school sites. The Hillsborough County
School Board purchased all materials for each
classroom built, saving $16,000 over purchasing
the building from an outside contractor.
The first building constructed by the inmates
was a double-wide portable to be used as
their own classroom. In addition to doing
projects building for school board sites, the
inmates have completed portables for the
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which
are used for canteen storage, video court and,
most recently, for the new horticulture site.
The Carpentry Program instructor actively
pursues innovative community projects.
Our inmates built special displays for the
City of Tampa’s non-alcohol New Year’s Eve
celebration, and
numerous benches
and displays for
Nature’s Classroom,
a K-8 park to teach
children about the
environment.
In 1996, the
carpentry program
was given an achievement award by the
4
National Association of Counties in recognition
of the development of the program and the
unique collaboration between
the Sheriff’s Office, School Board
and the Associated Builder’s
and Contractors Association.
In 1999, the National
Association of Counties recog nized the C ar pentr y
Program for the construction
of 18 playhouses that were
donated to Head Start centers
and domestic violence shelters throughout
Hillsborough County. In 2000, the Correctional
Education Association awarded the program
the Marvin Sull Award, which recognizes
one program nationally each year for excellence
in vocational training.
With the school board’s decision to
discontinue building portable classrooms,
other projects were sought to provide handson training. Hillsborough Habitat for Humanity
is partnering with the program to construct
roof trusses at the jail. The trusses will be
transported by Habitat for Humanity staff to
locations throughout Hillsborough County
where homes are being constructed for lowincome families.
CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM
T
he Culinary Arts Program began in 1990,
with the opening of the Orient Road Jail.
The program is an integral part of the jail’s
kitchen operation. Under the
supervision of the instructor,
program participants are responsible for salad and dessert production, food preparation, setting up the food line,
and serving staff.
The Sheriff’s Office contracts
w it h
an
out side
vendor to provide food
service in its jails.
The Culinar y Arts
Program’s participants
are included in the
contract as staffing provided by the Sheriff’s
Office. If they were not
available, contractstaffing levels would
have to be increased
at significant expense
to taxpayers.
Inmates participating
in Culinary Arts have
the opportunity to utilize
the different types of
commercial equipment
reg u la rly
oper ated
in large restaurant
or other institutional
facilities. The inmates have the benefit of
learning skills from talented chefs who manage
food services within the jail system. On
occasion, guest chefs present demonstrations
for inmates to learn various types of food
preparation.
While participating in the program, inmates
can earn certificates by demonstrating
skill proficiencies in the following areas:
General Culinary Operations,
Equipment, Stock, Soup and
Sauce Preparation; Meat, Poultry
and Fish Preparation; Dairy,
Eggs and Starchy Products
Preparation; Salad, Buffet Food,
Beverages and Related Food
Preparation; Bakery Goods and
Dessert Preparation; and Dining
Room Operation.
In addition to
vocational training
classes, all enrolled
inmates are required
to participate in Adult
B a sic
E duc at ion,
Employability Skills,
Personal
M o ne y
Management, Parenting, Workplace
Conflict Resolution and
Pathways to Change.
Social workers provide
intensive case management to
help inmates address issues such
as housing, transportation, identification, counseling, employment,
and further training.
5
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY
W
ith 48% of inmates unemployed at the time of
arrest, the Inmate Programs Bureau strives
to prepare those incarcerated for successful re-entry into the workforce.
Since the majority of businesses are now utilizing
advanced technology, the Computer Technology
program was implemented to teach inmates basic
workplace computer skills over an eight-week
period. This part-time vocational training program
began by providing instruction on hardware and
software programs, such as advanced keyboarding,
Microsoft Word, and Introduction to Excel.
In 2004, we added a separate, full-time program called the Computer Technology Academy.
This intensive eight-week vocational training program includes 132 hours of computer
training, academic classes, Workplace Readiness, Pathways to Change, Employability Skills,
Personal Money Management, Parenting and Workplace Conflict Resolution.
In order to expose inmates to area employers and technical schools, guest speakers are
invited to give presentations on available options for inmates upon their release from jail.
In addition, social workers provide intensive case management to help inmates address
issues such as housing, transportation, identification, counseling, and employment.
6
CAREERS AND
ACCOMMODATIONS TRAINING (CAT)
T
he Career and Accommodations Training
(CAT) Program began in early 1999. It is
open to male and female inmates and targets
low-risk minimum-security,
sentenced inmates who are
eligible for work release.
The eight weeks of
training includes five hours of
classroom instruction daily.
Initial instruction, Workplace
Essentials, covers subjects
such as telephone skills
and procedures, employer
expectations, Federal and State employment
laws, resume writing and interviewing skills
and customer service skills.
The core curriculum emphasizes a
complete overview of the travel and tourism
industry with a concentration on hospitality
skills, including front desk procedures, safety
and security issues, banquet and catering
functions, hospitality accounting and hands
on applications.
The goal of the program is to transition
offenders who successfully complete the
classroom portion of the CAT program to the
Department of Detention Services’ Work
Release Center (WRC). Once placed at WRC,
a caseworker coordinates
the inmate’s interview with
employers in the hospitality
industry. If the inmate is
not eligible to enter WRC,
the caseworker will provide
referrals for the inmate to
seek assistance through
Brewster Technical once
they are released from jail.
In addition to vocational training classes, all
enrolled inmates are required to participate in
Adult Basic Education, Employability Skills,
Personal Money Management, Parenting,
Workplace Conflict Resolution and Pathways to
Change. Social workers provide intensive case
management to help inmates address issues
such as housing, transportation, identification,
counseling, employment, and further training.
Inmates are exposed to a wide variety of work
type experiences and gain skills that will enable
them to advance in the hospitality industry.
7
HORTICULTURE PROGRAM
I
n 1990, the Horticulture Program cleared
3/4 of an acre behind the Orient Road Jail to
place a greenhouse and shade-house area for
plant propagation.
Inmates sentenced to county
jail time and
classified as reduced custody are
eligible to enter
the Horticulture
Program.
The program operated successfully over
the years at ORJ; however, the area was small
and lacked space for expansion. In 2004, a
10-acre site at the Falkenburg
Road Jail became the new home
for the Horticulture Program.
Utilizing inmate canteen funds,
a commercial well, septic tank,
two large greenhouses, and a
shade house were constructed
on the site. The Carpentry
P rog ra m
con st r uc ted
a
doublewide classroom to serve
the Horticulture Program.
With completion of the new location, the
Horticulture Program continued taking on
new projects, including growing wetland
replacement plants and producing larger
quantities and a greater variety of plants for
sale to the public.
The instructor and students grow a large
variety of ornamental flowers, shrubs and
trees. Four to five times yearly, a public plant
sale is held in front of the Falkenburg Road Jail.
All monies raised at the plant sales are used to
purchase materials such as soil, seedlings, pots,
and equipment for the program. In addition,
the program donates plants for special projects
8
and seeks new ways to assist others in the
community.
Over the past several years, the instructor
has expanded the growing selection to include
over 70 types of peppers. Through networking,
he has obtained seeds from all over the
world. With some of the pepper harvest, the
class created a recipe for its own hot sauce,
through collaboration with the Culinary Arts
Program.
The hot sauce is called Jail House Fire and
has three levels of “hotness” including 1st
Degree Felony - Super Hot, 2nd Degree Felony
- Hot, 3rd Degree Felony, Medium Hot and
Misdemeanor for those who like milder sauce.
The staff of the Horticulture
Program hopes to produce the
sauce and sell it to earn funds
to continue to support program
needs.
In addition to vocational
training classes, all enrolled
inmates are required to
participate in Adult Basic
Education, Employability Skills,
Personal Money Management, Parenting,
Workplace Conflict Resolution and Pathways to
Change. Social workers provide intensive case
management to help inmates address issues
such as housing, transportation, identification,
counseling, employment, and further
training. Upon leaving
the program, trained
inmates are better
prepared to obtain
gainful employment
and support themselves
and their families.
SEWING & ALTERATIONS PROGRAM
T
he Sewing & Alterations Program provides instruction in basic sewing, clothing repair and garment
construction. Inmates in the sewing program repair
an average of 7,500 uniforms and mattress covers annually, saving taxpayer dollars by not having to hire
personnel to do mending.
The Sewing instructor accepted the challenge of
producing a sleepwear gown for female inmates. The
INtiMATES line was initiated in 2004 and provided
participants the opportunity to learn additional skills in
the area of sewing production from start to finish. While
at this time, the product produced is only for internal
use, it lays the foundation for larger production projects
should that be the direction the Sheriff’s Office decides
to pursue. Some of the other areas being examined for
mass production are men’s boxers, sheets, towels, and pillow cases. Future projects will
generate a cost-savings for tax payers by producing multiple items at less expense.
As part of the production of the INtiMATES sleepwear, offenders learn skills necessary
to operate embroidery machines. The program has provided low cost embroidery services
to area youth sports teams, community groups, individuals, and other organizations. For
further information on embroidery services, please contact: Ms. Bonnie Gordon at 2425086
While the potential for jobs in the garment industry in the Tampa Bay is limited, staff
focus on work readiness skills. Inmates are referred to area adult technical and vocation
schools for further training and/or job placement.
9
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM
T
he Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office In-Jail Substance Abuse Treatment Program has been
operating since 1987. It was originally established as one of three sites selected nationally by
the Bureau of Justice Assistance to serve as model in-jail programs.
The mission of the program is to prepare graduates of the program to develop and strengthen
coping mechanisms that support a clean and sober lifestyle and to prevent relapse.
The six-week program provides a comprehensive assessment, drug education, group and individual
counseling, and case management services, including the development of a follow-up treatment
plan and linkage with the courts and community treatment providers.
The program is licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families and annually
undergoes a stringent audit of procedures, programmatic standards, staffing, training, and clinical
outcomes.
Over the years, the program has continued to enhance services by collaborating with the University
of South Florida’s Florida Mental Health Institute to initiate nationally recognized best practices,
such as a Co-Occurring Disorders curriculum and gender specific “Seeking Safety” curriculum for
female inmates.
The Hillsborough County In-Jail Substance Abuse Treatment Program has continually strived
to provide clinically sound and comprehensive services to offenders with substance abuse
problems.
In 2000, the Sheriff’s Office was one of 10 sites selected nationally by the United States Department
of Education’s Office of Correctional Education for a Life Skills for State and Local Prisoners Grant.
The project included expanding services for inmates enrolled in the In-Jail Substance Abuse Program
by adding a pre-treatment program that included Pathways to Change (cognitive skills program),
10
Parenting, Employability, and Personal Money Management. In addition, inmates receive classes
in AIDS Awareness, Food and Nutrition, and services from community agencies once they were
released from jail.
The average male participant in the program is 33 years of age with 7.8 prior criminal arrests,
while female participants average 35 years of age with 9.17 prior arrests. Many of the offenders have
multiple substance abuse-related charges. The program is offered to both male and female inmates
with a history of substance abuse.
An average of more than 450 inmates successfully complete the In-Jail Substance Abuse Treatment
Program each year. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held weekly
throughout the jails by community volunteers, and inmates are provided with information on groups
available in the community.
Since the program’s inception, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has hosted numerous
treatment staff from national and international jails and prisons.
In addition, work-shop presentations on the program have been made locally and at the annual
conferences of the Correctional Educational Association, American Jail Association, American
Correctional Association, National GAINS Conference for Co-Occurring Disorders, and the National
Forensic Social Workers Conference.
In 2005, the Substance Abuse Treatment Program was selected nationally from jails and prisons
around the country as the recipient of the American Correctional Association’s Exemplary Offender
Program Award. This prestigious award is given annually to recognize one outstanding program
that has consistently demonstrated excellence and has formal goals and objectives, data tracking
for statistical comparisons, and highly skilled and trained staff to oversee the program.
11
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM
I
n 1999, the Sheriff’s Office, the Thirteenth
Judicial Court and Western
Judicial Services entered into a
partnership to begin offering a
domestic violence counseling
program. This was initiated because of the consistently large
group of offenders being held on
domestic violence-related charges.
The average participant in the In-Jail
Domestic Violence Program is
33 years of age with 8.7 prior
criminal arrests. Many of the
offenders have multiple domestic
violence-related charges. The
program is offered to both male
and female inmates with either
a current or prior domestic
violence-related arrest.
Partner domestic violence
can be defined as violence or
controlling behavior by a person
toward an intimate partner.
Although the partner is the
primary target, violence is often directed
at children as well, and sometimes toward
family members, friends, and even bystanders
in attempts to control their partner. (Peace at
Home 1994-2004)
Currently, there are over 400
offenders being held on a daily
basis with at least one domestic
violence related-charge. Those
offenders would most likely never
have the opportunity or initiative to attend
domestic violence
counseling, unless it
was available during
their incarceration.
The In-Jail Domestic
Violence Program
currently ser ves
over 300 inmates
annually, and we
expect the program
to continue to grow
in the future.
The In-Jail Domestic Violence Program
utilizes curriculum designed by the Duluth
Domestic Abuse Intervention Project. Inmates
are required to attend domestic violence
classes three times weekly, 1.5 hours per
class, for eight weeks. The instructors must
meet requirements of the Thirteenth Judicial
Court Administrator’s Office in order to be
approved as a domestic violence facilitator in
Hillsborough County.
12
In addition to
participating in domestic violence counseling,
inmates are required to attend Adult Basic
Education classes, Employability Skills,
Personal Money Management, Parenting,
Workplace Conflict Resolution and Pathways
to Change, a cognitive skills program. Social
workers provide intensive case management to
help inmates address issues such as housing,
transportation, identification, counseling,
employment, and training.
LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM
I
n 1995, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was awarded the first of two Federal grants from
the United States Department of Education. Each was focused on the training of life skills to adult
offenders.
The first project provided an integrated approach
to transitional programming by combining
vocational training, academic classes, intensive
case management, life skills classes and transitional
services to inmates in vocational training
programs.
In 2000, the second project expanded life skills
classes for all inmates participating in the substance
abuse treatment and domestic violence intervention
programs, and implemented additional classes for
inmates in vocational training programs.
As a result of the success of both grant projects, life skills classes are a pivotal part of jail
programs. Inmates participating in substance abuse treatment, domestic violence counseling, and
vocational training must now complete a series of life skills classes in addition to their core program
requirements. Classes are also available for inmates in the general population.
Social work staff within the Inmate Programs Bureau and staff from community agencies are
responsible for facilitating the following life skills classes:
Pathways to Change was designed by Dr. Martha Bireda, a former researcher at the University of
South Florida School of Special Education. The Pathways curriculum focuses on helping offenders
learn to think in ways that induce behavioral change, leading to an increased sense of personal
responsibility and accountability to begin taking action to change their lives.
Pathways to Change is a cognitive behavioral model taught over 18 hours, covering topics, such
as Cultural Diversity, Goal Setting, Personal Decision Making and Problem Solving.
The Employability Skills curriculum
series is taught in five 11/2 hour sessions. It is
designed to prepare participants for successful
employment. Classes provide information on
searching for a job, applying for a position,
interviewing techniques, on-the-job skills,
and keeping or changing jobs.
13
A
ccording to a Bureau of Justice Statistics
and other current national research,
only 53 percent of jail inmates in the United
States were employed full-time at the time
they were arrested, and 62 percent had an
annual income of less than $10,000.
The Employability Skills program is
designed to supplement the skills learned
in Workforce Readiness taught through
adult education and
to better prepare
offenders to seek and
gain employment in
the community.
Personal Money
Management is
facilitated through
five one-hour classes
on techniques to
ma nage
money
more effectively. Class instruction includes
budgeting, checking and savings accounts,
payroll deductions, taxes and smart-shopping
habits.
In conjunction with the Hillsborough
County School Board, the Hillsborough
County Sheriff’s Office spent considerable
time several years ago aligning employability
skills, personal money management and
Pathways to Change with Federal guidelines
set through the Secretary’s Commission on
Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS).
The Commission’s fundamental purpose
was to encourage a high-performance
economy characterized by high-skill, highwage employment. Through programs in the
jail, inmates are afforded the opportunity to
14
learn basic workplace competencies, skills
and personal qualities to succeed on the
job.
The Parenting P rogram consists
of 15 hours of instruction focusing on
interpersonal and family relationships.
Class instruction includes dealing with
separation, building trust, parenting
styles, verbal communication with
children, listening to
your child, non-verbal
communication with
children, discipline,
praise, and punishment, getting in
touch and staying
involved, planning
for contacts, and
breaking the cycle
and planning for a
better life for our children.
Special mechanical babies are used in the
class to demonstrate the negative impact of
drugs and alcohol on babies at birth. Inmates
are given information on how substance
abuse and domestic violence impact the
lives of their children.
According to the Child Welfare League
of America (2000), when a parent is
incarcerated, children’s lives are disrupted.
They often lose contact with their parents,
frequently live in poverty, experience
emotional difficulties, and are at-risk for
poor academic performance, truancy, and
dropping out of school, as well as gang
involvement, early pregnancy, drug abuse,
and delinquency.
Approximately 65 percent of incarcerated men
and women in the nation have at least one child. In
Hillsborough County, the number is eight percent
higher.
Workplace Conflict Resolution Skills is an
eight-hour course facilitated to teach inmates basic
skills on how to express differences appropriately in
the workplace. It also teaches them self-respect and
respect for others.
Instructors for the eight- hour Food and Nutrition
course are provided through the Hillsborough County
Cooperative Extension Office. Food purchasing, nutrition, food preparation, and gardening are
taught. Special emphasis is given to appropriate nutrition for women during pregnancy and for
raising healthy children.
AIDS Awareness classes are taught by community agencies and provide information on
AIDS/HIV prevention services, which will help
individuals initiate and/or sustain behaviors
to reduce or eliminate their risk of becoming
infected. Referral services for HIV counseling
and testing during incarceration and after
release are provided.
The Community Resource Seminar is a twohour class developed to provide information and
direction on how to access community services
for successful reintegration upon release from
jail. Pertinent topics are addressed to include
housing, transportation, substance abuse and domestic violence counseling, child support
and visitation, physical and mental health issues,
identification, etc.
The various life skills programs positively impact
inmates by reinforcing the importance of treatment,
counseling, education, job and vocational training
skills, as well as personal financial management
and family-relationship development.
15
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
T
he staff of the Religious Services Section are responsible for assuring inmates
have the opportunity to participate in religious
practices deemed essential
to their faith while incarcerated.
This is accomplished
through the leadership of
the Inmate Programs Bureau
chaplain, his staff and over
300 trained religious services
volunteers, representing 115
churches in the community.
On a weekly basis, more than 50 services
and Bible studies are held, including
Catholic, Catholic in Spanish Language,
Inter-denominational, Inter-denominational
in Spanish language, Islamic, and Jehovah
Witness. Annually, thousands of inmates
receive individual spiritual counseling through
detention department chaplains and/or the
volunteers of the Come Have a Talk (CHAT)
Program.
When a religious leader of an inmate’s faith
is not represented through the chaplain’s
staff or volunteers, the chaplain assists the
inmate in contacting such a person. Members
of the Religious Service’s staff maintain
close relationships with community religious
resources.
Local churches and/or char itable
organizations donate the majority of religious
reading materials distributed in the jails.
Over the years, inmates
have enjoyed visits by local
and national religious figures,
including the Bishop of
the Catholic Diocese of St.
Petersburg, Grace Ministries,
New York’s Manhattan Grace,
the Tampa Bay Tabernacle
Choirs, and Prison Ministries.
The past several years,
Hillsborough County has been a designated stop
for the Bill Glass Champions for Life Program,
which coordinates hundreds of performers and
volunteers to bring its Christian ministry into
the jails. Due to its unique method of bringing
in athletes, singers, and musicians in to share
their faith, the program has been a favorite of
both inmates and staff.
For many years, as well, Abe Brown Ministries
has consistently provided volunteers who
minister to inmates and provide assistance
to offenders and their families, once they are
released from jail.
The Department of Detention Services is
fortunate to have the support of numerous
religious leaders in the community to provide
services to inmates of so many different
faiths.
16
LIBRARY SERVICES
I
n the jail system, individual library areas
are located within each housing area to
provide inmates access to general reading materials. The majority of books and magazines
are donated to the Hillsborough
County Sheriff’s Office through
area libraries, retirement centers, churches, and individual
donors.
On an annual basis, nearly 10,000 books
and magazines are donated. Inmate Programs
Bureau staff members are assigned to collect
them and keep library areas neatly organized
and stocked. A variety of reading topics are
available, including books
in Spanish language, and on
ethnically diverse subjects.
The law libraries are located in
the Orient Road and Falkenburg
Road jails. Staff members research
and fill an average of 2,000 inmate
requests for legal materials each
month. Priority is given to inmates authorized by
the courts to represent themselves in a criminal
or civil court procedure.
VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES
M
ore than 500 volunteers assist jail personnel with religious services, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and vocational programs. They are an integral part of inmate
programs.
One hundred and fourteen different churches provide volunteers to assist the Sheriff’s Office
Chaplain in holding religious services, Bible study, spiritual counseling, and to distribute literature.
The chaplain’s staff is comprised of six employees and 15 volunteer chaplains, who each donate
8 to 40 hours weekly.
There are 10 Alcoholic and Narcotics Anonymous meetings held in the jails each week. Community
volunteers conduct all of them.
Individuals who are interested in volunteering in the jails must complete an application and
training process through the Department of Detention Services. Volunteer security training and
religious services trainings are held four times each year.
While ex-offenders are encouraged to become involved in working with inmates, they cannot
have been arrested in the last year or be on any kind of court-ordered supervision.
In addition to volunteers, numerous community agencies provide professional staff to assist
with programs or provide aftercare services. Some of the agencies represented include Tampa
Hillsborough Action Plan, DACCO, Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Office, ACTS, PAR,
Child Abuse Council, Franc, Western Judicial Services, University of South Florida, Hillsborough
House of Hope, and the Centre for Women.
Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities should call 247-8479 for further
information.
17
GRANT AWARDS
O
ver the last 15 years, Inmate Programs’ Bureau staff members have actively submitted grant
applications to enhance and expand programs for inmates in the jail system. Federal grant
awards in the amount of $2,355,105 have provided us with many opportunities to initiate new and
exciting projects in Hillsborough County.
September 1987
Bureau of Justice Administration
Substance Abuse Treatment Demonstration Grant
Awarded $300,000 for a three-year grant to implement a substance-abuse treatment intervention in
a jail setting. We were one of three sites selected nationally. The program has earned an outstanding
reputation in the community, and the courts more actively sentence offenders to provide them with
a secure setting in order to obtain treatment.
December 1992
United States Department of Education
Functional Literacy Grant for State and Local Prisoners
Awarded $363,514 for a three-year grant period for the establishment of a computer-integrated
learning system within the Detention Department. We were one of 11 projects selected nationally.
The project successfully combined traditional teaching methods with computer technologies,
offering a comprehensive education program, which demonstrated statistically significant increases
in the participants’ rate of functional literacy, encouraged participation in GED programs and helped
meet the basic standards required to enter vocational training programs.
April 1995
United States Department of Education
Cooperative Demonstration Grant for State and Local Prisoners
One of five sites selected nationally for an award of $391,591 for a two-year grant period to
provided intensive case management and transitional services to inmates participating in three
vocational training programs.
The project demonstrated an increase in vocational competencies, educational levels and GED
completions. The Sheriff’s Office case-management approach successfully demonstrated the need
for developing and enhancing partnerships with both public and private agencies and businesses
in the community.
September 2000
United States Department of Education
Life Skills Grant for State and Local Prisoners
One of ten sites selected nationally for an awarded $1,300,000 for a three-year grant period to
provide life skills training for offenders.
The project provided life-skills classes for all inmates participating in the substance-abuse
treatment and domestic-violence intervention program, and enhanced programming for inmates
in vocational training programs. Community-based case managers provided aftercare services.
18
QUALITY OF SERVICE RECOGNITION
T
he staff of the Inmate Programs Bureau
has been recognized both locally and nationally for its development of
innovative and effective programs.
The Carpentry Program
has received the National
Association of Counties
Award of Excellence twice – in
1996 and 1999 – for program
collaboration with community
partners and construction of 18
playhouses for both Headstart
and area domestic violence
shelters.
In July 2000, the Correctional
Education Association selected
the Carpentry Program as the recipient of the
Marvin Sull Award, which given annually to
one jail or prison program nationally that
demonstrates creativity and effectiveness in
correctional programs.
In 2003, the Hillsborough County School
Board awarded the Inmate Programs Bureau
its Outstanding Service Award for excellence
as a community partner.
In 2005, the Substance Abuse Treatment
Program was selected nationally from jails and
prisons around the country as the recipient
of the American Correctional Association’s
Exemplary Offender Program
Award. This prestigious award
is given annually to recognize
one outstanding program that
has consistently demonstrated
excellence and has formal goals
and objectives, data tracking
for statistical comparisons, and
highly skilled and trained staff
to oversee the program.
In addition to program
awards, members of the
staff has been recognized
locally and nationally through
individual awards, such as
the Hillsborough County School Board’s
Outstanding Service Award (for an individual),
American Jail Association’s Civilian of the
Year, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Medal of Distinguished Performance and
a Distinguished Performance Award, and
Hispanic Civilian of the Year. In addition, many
staff members have received recognition and
appreciation for their participation on various
boards, councils and coalitions for non-profit
organizations in the community, and for their
volunteer work individually performed on their
own time.
19
JAIL TV
THE DETENTION LEARNING CHANNEL
I
n collaboration with
the University of South
Florida’s television station
– WUSF, the Hillsborough
County Sheriff’s Office
has developed a closedcircuit television channel
to provide educational
programming for inmates.
This exciting and innovative project provides informational programming to
reach the entire inmate population, without
requiring additional staff and/or classroom
space.
In 1994, as more media attention focused on
whether offenders should have the privilege
of watching television while in jail or prison,
Hillsborough County made the decision to
restrict inmate viewing to the closed-circuit
channel, and to the local PBS and university
educational channels.
The enhanced closed-circuit channel has
been named Jail TV, the Detention Learning
Channel. Broadcast is scheduled 10 hours per
day. The channel is seamless, with promos,
schedules and built-in infomercials. All three
Hillsborough County
Detention Department
facilities receive the
same broadcast of high
quality
educational
and informational programming.
Programming includes
educational, vocational,
life and employability
skills, health issues,
parenting, substance abuse and
domestic violence education, and legal
procedures. In addition, videos are produced
at the jail, highlighting internal programs and
community aftercare.
The goal of Jail TV is to provide positive
educational programming that has direct
application for jail inmates. These programs
are not intended to supplant the many
educational, vocational, substance abuse
treatment, domestic violence counseling, and
religious services provided through staff and
volunteers. However, television programming
serves as an additional means to reach
offenders in a positive and cost efficient
manner.
Typical Daily Schedule:
Searching for God in America
Families Talk – Education Starts at Home
Stand Up and Do What’s Right
Guiding Children Successfully
Breaking the Cycle
Violent Times (Domestic Violence)
The Long Road Home (Substance Abuse)
Crossroads Café (Literacy)
Marijuana: At Your Own Risk
Hidden Victims: Children of Domestic Violence
20
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
David Gee, Sheriff
Jose Docobo, Chief Deputy
Department of Detention Services
David M. Parrish, Colonel
Jail Division III
Elaine White, Major
Charles Ellison, Captain
Inmate Programs Bureau
Ms. Jan Bates, Manager
Phone Number: (813) 247-8488
Inmate Training and Resources Section
Ms. Anne-Mari Perotti-Marsicano, Supervisor
Phone Number: (813) 247-0263
Inmate Treatment and Intervention Section
Mr. Joel Pietsch, Supervisor
Phone Number: (813) 247-8489
Educational Services Section
Mr. Edward Wickham, Supervisor
Phone Number: (813) 247-8483
Religious Services Section
Chaplain Arthur Carter, Supervisor
Phone Number: (813) 247-8479
HCSO Web Site: www.hcso.tampa.fl.us
Publication of booklet funded by United States Department of Education,
Life Skills Grant for State and Local Prisoners, Award Number V255A000053.