The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Department of Corrections has continued on this year in the quest to become the nationally recognized correctional leader. The Year 2002 brought about an opportunity for this department to take a look back at what has been accomplished by our corrections professionals during the past 7 years, and to take a look forward to our future opportunities to develop our services, programs, functions and operations.
Involving community organizations, volunteers, and outside professionals has enabled us to further develop our program delivery to the inmate population. At the Pretrial Detention Facility, programs such as Jail LINC (Linking Inmates Needing Care) were among the first to address the issues of combining community and correctional resource for a specific disease. With assistance from the Department of Health and other outside providers, we have been able to deliver much needed services to our inmate population since 1999. Public School #176, our "in jail" school, has had 65 graduates. This collaboration between the Duval County School Board, State Attorney's Office and the JSO helps to keep incarcerated juveniles within the educational system, thereby increasing their chances for success upon release. From Pre-Release Programs ABE/GED and Learn To Read, a total of 20 programs are currently being offered to the inmate population – 17 of which have been added since July 1, 1995.
Our impact on the community, past, present and future is not only seen in the continued reduction in recidivism, but through the many community projects our corrections professionals are involved in. Playing Santa to the children at the Children's Home Society, walking to help find the cure for the blood-related cancers, setting up games for the Special Olympics, forming a softball team for ex-inmates who have participated in the Substance Abuse Treatment Program – all are examples of our commitment to do our part to contribute to the health, welfare and safety of this great City of Jacksonville.
Strengthening the process of transition for offenders leaving the institutional setting and moving into the community, providing ongoing staff development in order to increase job performance and professional opportunities, and fostering the best possible relations with our community will be our continuing efforts as we move forward into the upcoming years. Our team of corrections professionals is dedicated to upholding our Core Values of Community Focused, Worthy of Trust, Always Improving, and Respect For Each Other.