ABE/GED
This program provides educational services for adult inmates who have not obtained their high school diplomas, with the goal of eventually earning a General Equivalency Diploma. Florida Community College at Jacksonville serves as the provider for this service. Education is one of the few things we know has an impact on crime; the more education you have, the less likely you are to engage in criminal activity.
Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous
Fridays, these volunteers come into the facility and meet on various floors for the purpose of discussing and sharing problems involved with substance abuse. These nationally based programs have proven to be of benefit as support services upon the inmate's release back into the community.
Character First
A leadership model that strengthens relationships, improves communication, and builds teamwork.
Communities in Schools (CIS )
Assists jailed juveniles to develop skills to complete high school, seek employment and have a positive start upon release. The full-time Program Manager assists jailed teenagers develop skills to complete high school, seek employment and a positive new start upon release.
Developing Adults With Necessary skills (DAWN)
This program is operated by the City of Jacksonville Community Services Department in partnership with the Jails Division, FCCJ and Gateway Community Services, and has a unique four-tiered approach of education, vocational skills training, employment/life skills training and transitional counseling for young adults age 18 to 21. DAWN is not a prepackaged program, but was developed from scratch by the partners in the program. DAWN inmates learn skills they hone through working with our building engineers on facility maintenance. The inmates in the program are county sentenced, and are housed on the second floor, but the program operates on the fourth. Some of our ex-DAWN inmates work with Youth Build when released. Youth Build is another program that is based at MCC and in the community, and works with Habijax and the DART program to assist in providing affordable housing to those who need it, and the destruction of abandoned, neglected properties.
Duval County Public School #176
The Duval County School Board conducts high school classes in our jail that parallel those offered in the rest of the county. As everyone (in the country, I think) knows, we regularly hold graduation programs and invite the media into our facility to observe this program, which has been successful not only in graduation efforts, but in maintaining continuity of the educational process in and out of jail.
Helping At Risk Kids (HARK)
Hubbard House offers this program to juveniles who have had problems with violence related issues in their homes and communities. Together with the counselor, the group examines options to domestic violence and violent reactions in general. The goal is to learn methods of behavioral control that will stop the cycle of domestic violence.
Healthy Choices
Periodically provided by Planned Parenthood, this program gives education and answers questions about human sexuality issues and parenting skills, with the purpose of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and improving knowledge in this area. The program rotates around, serving varying populations. Recently, a program on Rape Prevention was provided to the female inmates in conjunction with Healthy Choices.
Learn to Read (Literacy Program)
This program is coordinated through Jacksonville's Literacy Pro's, Inc. Inmates are trained as tutors by civilian volunteers. These tutors then provide one-on-one instruction to other inmates who are at or below the sixth grade level in their reading skills. These sessions usually take place in the dormitories, interview areas or classrooms and may involve adult or juvenile inmates.
Mental Health Diversion Program
While this is not a program with classes and teachers, it is still classified as one of our efforts to divert mentally ill offenders from the criminal justice system into a more treatment-orientated system in the community. With unprecedented cooperation from our local mental health treatment providers, we are managing to divert offenders at the back door of the jail and in first appearance hearing back into social service agency care. Being mentally ill should not be a crime, and we are one of the only agencies in the nation actively taking steps to solve this crisis. Over the past year, 30 offenders have been diverted from the courts, and six from intake. These inmates would likely have spent over thirty days in our jail, probably in lockdown, had they not been diverted. Plus, in the community, they will be getting more of the treatment they need.
Mentorship Program
The State Attorney recruits volunteers from the community, trains them in the mentoring process, and matches them with sentenced juveniles. The mentors usually meet with the juvenile once a week in-jail, and maintain contact once the juvenile is released. The one-on-one contact from an adult other than the juvenile's parents often creates a positive role model, and additional support once the juvenile is back in his or her home community. Also partnering with the Communities in School Program to match mentors with the juvenile inmates. Several juveniles have been successfully matched with mentors in the Community
Ready 4 work program
An ex-offender re-entry workforce development initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor, Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives. Through its grantee Public Private Ventures and national partners, Ready4Work mobilizes local coalitions to work together for sustainable ex-offender re-entry, and to improve outcomes for ex-offender and the communities in which they live. Ready4Work provides Arrangement to pay applicable fines, restitution or child support assessment, mentoring program, career development training course, six months case management, and job support services. Recruiting of prospective inmates is very vital and it is important that the inmate meet the Programs' requirements.
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT)
Operated on the weekends by Gateway Community Services and monitored by the Community Service Department, City of Jacksonville, this program has addressed the needs of juveniles with substance abuse issues in our system. This one of a kind program was also built by Jails Division personnel in cooperation with the State Attorney for our juveniles, and makes our Jailed Juvenile Program a seven day a week operation. The evaluation of this program will be available soon.
Service Learning Project
One new initiative that has been implemented is with the University Of North Florida Department Of Criminology. Several of the students at the University participated in the Service Learning Project to earn credits toward their degree.
Substance Abuse Education Program
River Region Human Services conduct these classes daily on every floor to adult inmates. They teach a 12-week program on issues involving substance abuse, and upon completion, award the inmate with a certificate.
Suited for Success
Provides interview appropriate suits and accessories, comprehensive grooming services, along with career development and mentoring disadvantaged men/juveniles seeking employment.
Toastmasters of America
Periodically, the Toastmasters of America offer their program to the juveniles, to improve their speaking skills, self-esteem, character development, sharing martial arts wisdom and motivational topics with presentation for at-risk kid's environment of today. Debating techniques, comparative, inspirational and other speaking skills are taught as well.
Tours
Tours are conducted at the three corrections facilities: Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Community Transition Center, and the Montgomery Correctional Center. The initial impression that the public is given of a Correctional Setting is presented by the Programs Officers.
Victim Impact Panel
Provides an interactive forum for those who have been victimized or a loved one who had been impacted by a crime and the juvenile.
Writing Program
"Using creative writing to reach out and connect with at-risk youth for the purpose of educating and building workforce skills."