1 10% Appropriation Reduction for Fiscal Year December 17, 2008 Senate Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Walter A. McNeil, Secretary Florida Department of Corrections

Base Budget$ 2.3 Billion Security and Institutional Ops.$ 1.5Billion Health Services$ Million Community Corrections$ 247 Million Administration$ 48.8 Million Education & Programs$ 27.3 Million Fixed Cap Budget$ 305 Million DC Budget

3 The Big Picture 10 % reduction = $ 221,263,808 A cut of this magnitude will negatively impact public safety and is contrary to the Department’s mission. “To protect the public safety, to ensure the safety of Department personnel, and to provide proper care and supervision of all offenders under our jurisdiction while assisting, as appropriate, their re-entry into society.”

4 Increasing Inmate Population Using current CJEC estimates, Florida will need to fund the equivalent of 19 new prisons over the next 5 years – a cost of roughly $2 billion. Using current CJEC estimates, Florida will need to fund the equivalent of 19 new prisons over the next 5 years – a cost of roughly $2 billion. Operating costs for each of these new prisons are approximately $26 million per year Operating costs for each of these new prisons are approximately $26 million per year

5 Proposal #1 - $196,479,063 Periodic Gain Time Awards Proposal: –Permit DOC to grant up to three separate 90-day gain time awards to inmates. –Provide inmates with up to two awards in FY and one award in FY –Consistent with the 85% law. Savings: –FY = $43M operating & $135M construction. –FY = $18M health services.

6 Periodic Gain Time Awards Advantages: –Consistent with the 85% law. –Sex offenders are not eligible. –Only amounts to a minimal change in the release date for inmates. –Gain time can be withheld, revoked, or reduced as determined by inmate behavior. –Gain time awards only need to be used to the extent that desired savings are achieved.

7 Probation Caseload Ratios

8 Proposal #2 - $25,014,597 Community Corrections Positions Proposal: –Reduce probation staff Effect on Regular Probation Caseloads: –Loss of 476 FTE –Regular probation caseloads will increase from 103:1 to 162:1 (includes active and active suspense cases) Savings: –FY = $23.7M loss of 476 FTE –FY = $1.3M expense (travel) savings.

9 Re-Entry Programs Saving Money and Lives DOC’s re-entry programs, like substance abuse treatment, vocational training, academic education, life-skills management, and faith and character-based programs have major benefits: –Reduced recidivism means fewer victims. –Reduced recidivism means fewer prison beds. –Lower criminal offending reduces the demand on the criminal justice system (police investigations, county jails, court costs, prosecuting and defending crimes).

10 Walter A. McNeil, Secretary Florida Department of Corrections