Ladies and Gentlemen under our care, custody, and supervision,
I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year. You might find this greeting odd or unexpected, given your current situation and my duty position, but I am sincere in this wish for your well-being and future happiness.
I have served as your Secretary for the past year. I have focused on learning about our State government, the Florida Department of Corrections, and about you. I have used this year to decide if I can help improve public safety and in giving you an opportunity for success. Coupled with the excellent support of our Governor and Legislature, the commitment and competence of the FDC staff, and the amazing service of our army of volunteers, I believe I can help.
Earlier in my 35-year military career, I was a warden at the U.S. Army’s maximum-security prison, the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. That correctional facility’s motto is, “Our Mission, Your Future.” The USDB is not only safe and secure, but most inmates choose to take part in their individual treatment and programming plans and choose to follow facility rules and regulations. Violence is rare. That is my experience, and that influences my actions, decisions and hopes for you.
The Courts, based on your actions, have placed you under our care and custody, or supervision. Some of you came ready to use your time with us to improve, while some at this point appear to want to continue a criminal lifestyle. I suspect most of you just want to spend your time in custody or under community supervision safely and with the least amount of friction. But I also believe if given the opportunity of either sitting around and being bored or being active, most of you will choose to take part in programs and activities that will better you now and prepare you for your future.
I want you to know what we are doing for you this year and in the years to come to address violence and improve programs. I hope that if you know the “why” of what we are doing, that most of you will support our actions, or at least not hinder our actions. I will provide you periodic messages explaining ongoing issues, plans and programs, and why we are taking certain actions. I promise to make future messages shorter and more direct, though I hope you will read this longer message to the end.
Here is the bottom-line. We at the FDC work for the citizens of the State of Florida, under the leadership of our Governor, following Florida statutes and National corrections and probation standards. We do this to meet five purposes: retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation, and restoration (if you are interested, you can read more about these five purposes of corrections below). The first three purposes deal directly with your past, present or potential for future criminal behavior. The last two are all about your success as a returning citizen to your community and your positive participation and performance if you are currently or will be on community supervision.
The Florida Department of Corrections exists to support Public Safety, which includes your safety, and improve your chances for success as a returning citizen or while under community supervision. It is our intent to create a safer environment for you with more opportunities to take part in vocational, educational, and wellness programs and to meet your treatment needs. Your choices and cooperation can help us support you, or your actions can detract from our rehabilitation and restoration goals for you and shift the balance of resources to fighting crime inside the fence and on the streets.
On the wall of my family living room, we display a text of ancient wisdom that asks, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” It’s not a bad approach to corrections, from my perspective. Retribution and incapacitation are just (and it is our duty to carry out the sentence of the Courts and combat crime inside our facilities or in our communities), and rehabilitation and restoration are a transformational expression of mercy (and my true want for you).
You all get a vote on whether our facilities and communities are safe, through your personal choices and actions. You can choose to follow facility rules and programs of supervision, and seek self-improvement. You can choose to walk a path of peace and restoration with your family, your community, and our State. If that is your choice, then we want to support you on this honorable path forward.
Perhaps as odd and unexpected as my first greeting, I ask you for your cooperation with our FDC staff and volunteers to see what we can accomplish together. I want to be able to shift a greater amount of our current and future resources to your treatment and programming needs, and your present and future success.
First, under our State’s laws and court systems, there are punishments such as a variety of fines, community service, restrictions, directed education, and yes, confinement to jails and prisons. It is the just retribution (punishment) of society on behalf of victims of crime and to uphold the rule of law. Community supervision places requirements on you, that if you do not follow, could lead to prison. Incarceration is a significant punishment, but its significance is not that we punish you in prison, it is that the deprivation of your liberty and freedom is that significant punishment. We clearly work hard to keep you with us for the exact number of days and years ordered by the Courts. We are also committed to work with those of you in a community setting, under the guidelines and length of supervision ordered by the Courts. This is our duty and statutory responsibility.
Second, during your period of incarceration and while under community supervision, you should not have the opportunity to commit crime or prey upon each other, the community, or our staff; this is incapacitation. If retribution is in response to what you did in the past, incapacitation is our present relationship and all the rules and procedures designed to keep you safe, especially if you are in prison. There is an expectation from our State’s leaders, citizens, and frankly your family members, that we run our prisons and community supervision programs safely and securely, free of crime.
Third, and there is much debate on this matter, some argue that the threat of imprisonment serves as a deterrence to future crime. I do not put much emphasis on this, given the number of people that commit crime under the influence of drugs, alcohol, intense emotion or in reaction to past trauma. People must be thinking clearly and soberly to properly weigh the potential cost of crime. Clearly, the threat of prison was not a deterrence for you. But here is an important point, some argue that prisons with a harsh or distressing environment increases its deterrent effect; I do not believe that to be the case. All facilities, even facilities or parts of facilities that must exercise close management of activities for safety reasons, should address your total well-being. The whole intent of community supervision is to address the factors that led to your criminal behavior, so that you will never come to prison or return to prison. This is not as a deterrence, but as a program to address your underlying needs and issues, and hold you accountable under supervision, to help you avoid future criminal behavior and incarceration. Corrections professionals, with the resources we are given by the State and donors, strive to structure your time in prison or in a community setting to be safe and productive, preparing you for the future.
The fourth purpose of prisons and community corrections is to provide rehabilitation. It is easy to understand why we do this for the 80% of you under community supervision that have never come to prison, and for the over 85% of you in prison that will be released and move back into your community (with then the 30% of you that will come under community supervision after prison). Corrections and probation professionals, volunteers, and community representatives prepare you for the time when you are a returning citizen and support you in the community, with the hope that you choose to be law-abiding and productive, filled with right purpose. But this goal also applies to those of you with longer sentences, to include Life. This preparation helps you live more productive and satisfying days while incarcerated, and perhaps gives you an opportunity to help others preparing for their release. There can be great personal satisfaction in helping others and I believe many with longer sentences, if given the opportunity, will use their skills to positively support their fellow inmates or the community.
To the side of rehabilitation, I add restoration. The Florida corrections system combines community corrections and supervision with the structure that runs our prison system, into one Department. This gives us a better ability to reach into our local communities to help you with reentry and restoration with your family and community. This is an intentional act, and key to this action is how we best prepare you to find a good job and housing. We want to connect you with agencies and both secular and faith-based organizations in your community who are willing to support you and welcome you into their civic groups, clubs, and houses of worship. We will strive to have those agencies connect with you now, while you are still in prison or under supervision, so your reentry can be smoother and more successful, and with greater predictability. The unemployment rate of the previously incarcerated and those under supervision is five times the national average.
We are going to change that in Florida! But you must choose to want this and to focus your efforts on your personal rehabilitation and restoration. No excuses, in the end you have to own this.
Sincerely,
Secretary Mark Inch
Florida Department of Corrections
Find Hope
Dear Inmate Population,
As you read or listen to this message, I do not know where you are, what you are thinking, or what you are feeling. Some of you have been with us for a long time and have grown and matured in our system and in life; others are early in your sentence or supervision program and this may be your first message from “The Secretary.” Perhaps you think we have so little in common, that we have no reason to interact. I admit, I have never been on probation or in prison, so I won’t try to tell you that I know how you are feeling or what you are thinking. But maybe there is at least one aspect of life and experience that can help us to connect.
While I have never stayed longer than a duty day in a prison, I do understand forced separation from those I love. Prior to this stage of my life, I was in the military. Over my career, I spent nearly four years deployed in countries like Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq. All were hard places. I was away from my home and did not have the choice to leave. Sometimes I felt separated from “real life,” almost like I was in “time out.” I felt that life would not start again until I returned home. My longest deployment was eighteen months; a rather short sentence from the view of many of you. But it sure seemed like a long time. I read the life story of a former Florida inmate who dedicated his life to aiding others with re-entry and substance use treatment. That inmate, Frank Costantino, called his book “Holes in Time.”
Whether today is your first day on supervision or in prison, or your thirty-eighth year behind the fence, you may wonder if today matters. Is the idea of connecting with your family and friends or planning your return home stressful and unclear? Do you wonder if anyone cares for you now? Is your family making plans for your return, even if it is years away? You may feel that because of where you are now, that the answer must be “no.” Please allow me to provide you a reason to think otherwise, to act otherwise and find hope.
You are at the center of an intense national debate. Leaders, legislators, legal and law enforcement professionals, professors, community organizers, executives from private organizations and major corporations are all talking about you. And if the number of emails I get is any indicator, many of your family members are focused on you as well. That focus means something very important and sure beats the alternative of apathy and indifference. There is real effort, expanding effort, to understand your needs and prepare you for your success as a returning citizen or to help you while under supervision. Real efforts are being made to help give you a second chance.
In April 2019, President Donald Trump declared April as the Second Chance Month. I was sitting about twenty feet from our President when he made this announcement, having just attended the 2019 Criminal Justice Reform Summit at the White House. That afternoon, the President stood with six former federal inmates. All six inmates were released under the Federal First Step Act, and all six had an opportunity to tell their story. Think about that, six former inmates standing with the President of the United States of America! During the ceremony the President announced the “second step.” He said that the Second Step Act would focus on the successful reentry and finding jobs for Americans with past criminal records.
In February 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis visited Operation New Hope in Jacksonville and announced the formation of the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence. This Foundation will link private organizations and businesses that see YOU as part of their future, to the Florida Department of Corrections. This Foundation will fund and develop programs, training and re-entry efforts in our institutions. Our Governor said, “We have to do more to get inmates ready for release – ready to be employees and to be productive members of our communities.” This new organization is very important, and this effort is focused on you and your success now and in the future.
The Florida Department of Corrections has a mission to support public safety beyond incarceration and supervision with your successful rehabilitation and restoration back into your community. From the moment you come under our supervision or arrive at a prison, to the last day of your sentence or supervision program, we work with intent to provide you with tools to succeed.
We also work with intent to convince your communities to welcome you back as returning citizens. We strive to help them understand what you have done right while in prison or under supervision - if you have done right. Your community should give you the opportunity for a job, a home and acceptance. Your community should give you redemption and a second chance. So we are encouraging community volunteers to work with you now. I hope that on the day you leave, someone is waiting for you on the other side of that gate. Someone you know, a family member, a friend or a mentor.
So why is it important to find and hold onto hope? Hope means we focus on what we can do, instead of what could have been. Hope means we choose to have a positive attitude and act, even when everything inside of us wants to give up. Hope accepts that our past actions have consequences, but that we have set a path to personal change, redemption and a successful future. With hope, we can remove hate, fear, insecurity and disappointment and grasp onto the truth that, regardless of circumstances, TODAY MATTERS.
Please understand that for us to help you, you must strive to be actively involved in your treatment, education and programs. We need you to commit to cooperate with us to make a difference. I assure you - your family and your community will notice our joint effort. One day, you will look back and say that your decision today may well have saved your life. Today, you can start walking a path that will make your family and community proud of you. Today, you can find hope for a bright and fulfilling future. Today, and every day beyond of your supervision or incarceration need not be a “Hole in Time”.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Inch
Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections
As Florida's largest state agency, the Department of Corrections employs 24,000 members statewide, incarcerates approximately 95,000 inmates and supervises nearly 164,000 offenders in the community.
Inspiring success by transforming one life at a time. Visit our website at http://www.dc.state.fl.us.
Find Meaning
Dear Inmate Population,
Amid this COVID-19 pandemic, what do you need from me? If I could give you anything within my authority as Secretary, what would you ask for? Careful, there is a reason for this question. Your request will tell me a lot about you. Will your request be of an immediate concern and involve your personal safety from the virus? No need to ask, we are working hard on that! Will your request be more about getting stuff? Will your request result in pleasure or entertainment? Will your request create for you status or give you power over others? If you ask your true desire, I will know what motivates you.
Last month I visited Union C.I. While there, an inmate asked me to allow in a banned book. The book is Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams. I had our Literature Review Committee reevaluate the book and they removed it from our prohibited publications list. But I was intrigued with the request. I dont personally know why the man, when given the unplanned chance to talk with the Secretary, chose to ask for a book. But I think there is something right about pursuing knowledge and meaning in ones own and also anothers cultural history. So, I ordered the book for myself and have added it to my pile of reading material.
When you order a book or go to the library, what are you looking for? My father was a professor and author of over 60 books. His books address deep theological and social issues and are filled with amazing insights and wisdom. But titles such as Psychology in the Psalms, Scripture as Story and Saga of the Spirit never hit the best seller list. On the other hand, there is one book by another author who also wrote 40 books of great insight and wisdom. Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl sold over 12 million copies. Imagine that, 12 million people bought a book because of a title that described their emptiness. Similarly, a book by Rick Warren, with a title of The Purpose Driven Life, sold over 34 million copies! Wow, that many people were searching for their life to have purpose.
Do you now see the reason behind my first question? Most requests we receive are about gaining power or pleasure. But shouldnt you want me to give you a chance to find meaning and purpose? That is something to discuss! Where do you want to see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years? How do you want to be able to positively affect your family, community, and a greater cause? Think and act on that and you will find meaning! Even in the midst of a crisis, you can make a choice TODAY to search for meaning, instead of pursuing power or pleasure. I cannot make that choice for you, but you can see examples of those who have made that choice all around you for example, the nurse that just took your temperature. You must figure out what cause is greater than yourself, that takes ahold of your focus and effort. It is that simple, that hard, and that important.
I have a specific message for men and women with longer sentences, to include Life. If in your search for meaning, you want to better the lives of others around you, we will figure out a way for you to have that opportunity. This programming research and redesign will take some time, creativity, and probably the agonizing bureaucratic process of changing rules. But I am committed to looking for ways for you to be able to act on behalf of others, for you to find and feel meaning.
On the last Wednesday of the Legislative Session, I sat in the State Capitol House Gallery to watch a historic vote. Following a Senate vote two days priora unanimous vote, I might addour two bills to reestablish the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund made it to the House floor. After 17 years, and with another unanimous vote, the House voted to send the Senate Bill to the Governor for his signature. Let me say that again in another way, on your behalf and to provide you tools for your search for meaning, every one of your Senators and Representatives voted for you!
Yesterday, Deputy Secretary Dixon and I visited the Tomoka Correctional Institution and spent about thirty minutes with a group of the men that have tested positive. Last week, we also gowned-up at Sumter C.I. and visited Zephyrhills. I heard the anxiety in the voices of those I spoke to and understand how hard it is to balance what we hear in the news, what we hear from our family members, and what you are being told by your facility leadership and health care providers. We have successfully blocked the introduction of the COVID-19 virus into the vast majority of our facilitiesand will continue that fight with all our energy and effort! But in those few facilities it has entered, I ask you to follow the advice and directions of your facility leadership and health care providers to minimize the spread, for your safety and those around you. We truly are in this together.
As our pace of activity slows during this crisis, perhaps use some of your time to talk to each other about meaning, following social distancing guidelines, of course. To start that discussion, allow me to provide you a quote from Viktor Frankl, Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose ones attitude in any given circumstance, to choose ones own way. I didnt mention it before, but Dr. Frankl was Jewish and survived the Nazi concentration camps during World War II, before writing his book Mans Search for Meaning. That man had the life experiences to speak and promote his insights and encouragements to us all.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Inch
Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections
Find A Mentor
Dear Inmate Population,
On my desk is a large stack of letters and printed emails. Most of these letters are from you in response to my last message, Find Meaning. I have read over half of the letters. I will read all of them. Though the requests in most letters and messages are handled by my staff, I do make a point to read everything that comes in. I learn and gain perspective from each of you, and your family and friends, that take the time to write, to share, to advise, and even to complain and criticize. I use your individual requests and observations to direct overall planning priorities and shape program development for our entire agency. You influence what I put in my annual budget request to improve our agency.
As I read the first group of letters, I was impacted by many of your stories, dreams, and regrets. After one gentleman wrote of his past struggles and hopes for the future, he asked, "Do you have any advice or wisdom that you could share with someone like me?" That struck me. Who on my staff answers that question?! We have all faced situations and challenges that seem so much bigger than our own wisdom, our own resources and cleverness? We have all wished at some point for someone who cares, someone with more wisdom or maybe just perspective, and the time to show us the way past a hard place?
I wanted to jump in my car and drive to Wakulla CI, just to answer that one question. But the truth is, a mentor must invest time to build a meaningful relationship, to be open, real, and available to answer hundreds of questions over months and years. Who steps forward to be that mans coach, counselor, and mentor? Where do we find such men and women of character, with enough lifes experiences and wisdom, in the large numbers necessary to help all of you in your personal walk?
As shown in your letters, there are many of you that step forward, formally and informally, to help your fellow dorm or cell mate. You have chosen now to live a life of character and promise. You have learned some of lifes hardest lessons, and that has impacted your decision on how you live now. I thank each and every one of you that reaches out with compassion to help a man or woman in need. That is commendable. We will do more to create formal avenues for such peer-to-peer mentorship.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, and the temporary suspension of most programs, you may have not noticed that Volunteer Appreciation Week came and went. The second hardest decision I had to make during this pandemic, after suspending visitation, was to suspend volunteers from entering our facilities and probation offices. With one decision, I blocked over 8,000 men and women that give of their personal time, to invest in you. The volunteers invested over 275,000 hours of service last year with you. Though the decision was necessary, especially during the height of the pandemic to protect you and our staff, you temporarily lost direct access to over 8,000 mentors.
Though there are many staff in the FDC committed and fully dedicated to your care, rehabilitation, and restoration, I wonder how many of you look to our volunteers as your primary mentor. I am sure not a single FDC staff member resents you for seeking out a volunteer for counsel and support. In fact, we encourage you to do just that. Our agency once had over 20,000 volunteers! My goal is to get us back to that number, and more, on your behalf.
If you do not have a mentor, look to our volunteers and the programs they offer. They will share with you their lifes experiences and wisdom. They can support you now and support you even more as you return to your community. They are there in your communities to welcome you home. But you must reach out. This is a decision only you can make. And even if it will be weeks or months before we can fully reestablish our volunteer base and programs, you can make your decision TODAY to reach out.
In that stack of letters, a second gentleman wrote, "If you could give me one thing what would I want? Its hard to say but whatever it was I'ld want it to be something that makes me a better person. An ear that actually listens, a heart that truly cares, an opportunity to utilize the technology offered to receive a meaningful education." Though expanding staff and educational/vocational programs takes time and resources (and we will continue to work on that!), welcoming back good-hearted volunteers to our institutions and offices to mentor, coach and teach again, began this month at select facilities.
We are now at a stage of the pandemic that many facilities and offices can resume some programming and reintroduce an initial group of volunteers, under certain conditions and modified procedures. Unfortunately, we are not yet able to resume full normal operations and visitation. Your warden or circuit administrator will provide you details of programs which will start over the coming weeks, and under what levels of participation we can safely run those programs. This will be a slow acceleration back to normal operations over the Summer and Fall (and we may even have to pump the brakes a few times) just not a 0 to 60 MPH in 3.2 seconds. But it is good to be on the path to recovery from this pandemic and I appreciate each and every one of you for your cooperation during these challenging times.
Mark Inch
Secretary of the FDC
In an earlier message, I expressed my appreciation for each of you, and your family and friends, that take the time to write, share, advise, and even to complain and criticize. When I get complaints, I notice two groups of people. Some appear to only want to vent, often with rather harsh language. Others, after pointing out our agency shortcomings, offer thoughtful solutions. Though I do gain perspective from the first group, I appreciate more those who strive to find common ground and offer real solutions.
We know solutions are often tied to resources; basically people, money, and facilities. Last Fall, when we worked on our agency’s budget request for this year, I showed our legislators FDC’s needs and proposed resourcing and policy solutions. The Legislature responded positively and when Governor DeSantis signed the State’s budget and the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund legislation in June, we received a very solid budget to improve this agency. The good challenge we now have is to apply those resources to our most important needs. Over the coming months, Deputy Secretary Dixon and I will share some solutions we have planned for this year and next, even as we personally and the Agency recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
But there is one area where I need and want your help now. And though money, people and facilities can help, at its core, it is not necessarily about resources, but choices. We need a solution for violence.
Let’s be blunt, some of you have chosen to continue a criminal lifestyle in prison or on probation. You use violence to enforce your position and game. Others appear unwilling or unable to control emotions, and resort to violence to address perceived or actual offenses. Some bring new victims to the brink of death and administer life-long scars, both physical and emotional, with no justification. Some commit murder. I don’t have to give you the stats; you see it.
But I also see a greater number of you who want nothing to do with violence, even if violence was once prevalent in your life. Others of you feel trapped and just do not know how to break free of your earlier decisions, addictions, emotions, and associations to live a more honorable life.
The level of violence in our system is a complex challenge and it is very difficult to fully understand all its contributing factors. With a greater understanding of the contributing factors, and I want to hear from you about what you think those are, I believe we can bend the curve downward on the level of violence in the system. I think we (you, the FDC staff, and volunteers) can turn this around. I believe we can fix it, so let’s fix it!
For this message, let me open the dialogue with you to encourage you to send your thoughts and observations about what contributes to the current level of violence, and potential solutions to this scourge. I want to hear from you.
More immediate, I want to ask for your help first with just one program we are designing to address violence against new short-sentenced inmates. We will start a program this year for most of the 7,000 inmates that annually come into our system for less than a year. You know this group. They came to your dorm five months ago, never really fit in, were probably manipulated by some, perhaps assaulted by others, and have already left the prison with the worse experience of their life. More than half unfortunately will come back after reoffending, for much longer sentences. Maybe this is your story.
Instead of sending these novice inmates to your dorm, we are going to take a different approach. We are going to hold them at our reception centers (or other locations) for their entire sentence, separate from longer-term general population. We will design and provide education and mentorship programs specifically focused on this group to get them back home on the right track, hopefully never to return. Here’s my question. What should we teach, what should this mentorship program look like, and who should be their mentors?
I wouldn’t be asking these questions if we had not already concluded that the best solution, the best program, will come with your participation. Many of us believe that there is a core group of long-term or life-sentenced men and women, that have learned some of life’s hardest lessons. This group has many that, in their heart, now have a sincere desire to help others. We believe, if given the opportunity, that enough of you will step forward to help build this program and serve as mentors for this challenging group of young inmates cycling through our system.
Are you someone that would want to be a part of creating and taking part in this solution? If so, contact your classification officer and let them know your interest. Give them something in writing explaining why you would want to be part of the solution, and what you have to offer. You will also need the endorsement of your warden. We will initially select 8 men and 2 women to be part of our design team, working with FDC staff from our Institutions leadership, and Program and Re-entry Division. As we get a better idea on the required size of the inmate mentorship cadre, and select those candidates, these first ten men and women will help design the training program for the mentors and will be key in training the mentorship cadre and getting this program up and running.
TODAY, are there ten of you that will step forward to help design this program for short-sentenced inmates? TODAY, are there perhaps one hundred of you that will raise your hand to serve as mentors and share your life’s lessons to these young men and women, showing them a better future? TODAY, are there perhaps one thousand of you that have really thought about our challenges with violence and victimization, and will pull out pen and paper to forward ideas and solutions to me on how to disrupt and marginalize those still committed to criminal activity? Do you have solutions on how we can approach and bring change to those predators, that perhaps do not know how to change the present course in their lives? Can we build a realistic path for redemption and a second chance for all those willing to take the first step away from violence?
Today I only focused one program idea; we have others. But my ears are open to hear from you about how to create more programs, and to give you more opportunity to be part of the solution against violence.
Find the Good
Dear Inmate Population,
This summer has not been easy. The southern tier of the United States, to include Florida, experienced a very difficult period in the COVID-19 pandemic. So did we in FDC. In just those two months, over 2000 of our staff contracted the virus, to include Deputy Secretary Dixon and myself. The virus entered all but five of our major facilities, infecting nearly 20% of you. And even though most of you that contracted the virus had minor or no symptoms, those with moderate symptoms like me, had a miserable, miserable few weeks. Some with underlying medical conditions and severe symptoms went to the hospital. COVID-19 is such a terrible disease, and as our Nation has had fatalities attributed to the virus, we too lost men and women from our ranks, both incarcerated individuals and staff. Those on supervision, as you lived and worked in our communities, you were subject to the same risks and infection rates as our staff.
Personally, I hope to never see another two months like this past July and August. I saw a meme that said the first rule of 2021 will be to never talk about 2020. But as August ended, we saw a significant reduction in new COVID-19 positive cases. In the last week of August through the first week of September, we had less than 300 new cases among our entire incarcerated population. And by the end of that first week of September, most of you that had contracted the virus were out of medical isolation 97% of you, in fact. We now have less than 350 men and women in medical isolation pending test results or running their course with the virus. Medical quarantine numbers are less than one-fourth of our peak month and dropping steadily. These numbers are encouraging and contributed to my decision to resume modified visitation and volunteer activities.
Am I trying to say the pandemic is over and paint you a rosy picture? No, quite the opposite. We are still in a serious pandemic, and we cannot let down our guard. The risk is still real. The potential for a second outbreak and serious consequences for those with underlying medical conditions remain. But if we can manage infection rates more in line with September, until the arrival of a successful vaccine, I consider that a realistic expectation and satisfactory. If we see indications of rising infection rates like July, we will have to again suspend visitation and volunteer programs.
I am optimistic that we can all show the discipline and patience necessary to fight and ride out this pandemic, the worst pandemic in 100 years. We must follow our established pandemic control procedures and new modified visitation and volunteer procedures. On balance, you have cooperated very well with our joint efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus. One added effort you can do soon is accept the flu vaccine, when offered. Flu has almost all the same symptoms as COVID-19, except loss of taste and smell. If we can keep flu out of our institutions this winter, we can keep our medical resources focused on the pandemic and better manage the identification and treatment needs of those that may still get COVID-19. I personally hate needles, but I will get the flu shot too.
Often in hardship, we see the best in people, and this is no exception. Thank you for the part you have played in protecting yourself and those around you, both fellow inmates, offenders, and staff. Had you not, the dire predictions of the virus running through all our prisons like wildfire, resulting in several thousand deaths, could have come true.
But that is not the only good I have seen. During the height of the pandemic, I wrote you about finding a solution to violence in our system. Do you remember what I wrote?
"TODAY, are there ten of you that will step forward to help design this program for short-sentenced inmates? TODAY, are there perhaps one hundred of you that will raise your hand to serve as mentors and share your life's lessons to these young men and women, showing them a better future? TODAY, are there perhaps one thousand of you that have really thought about our challenges with violence and victimization, and will pull out pen and paper to forward ideas and solutions to me on how to disrupt and marginalize those still committed to criminal activity? Do you have solutions on how we can approach and bring change to those predators, that perhaps do not know how to change the present course in their lives? Can we build a realistic path for redemption and a second chance for all those willing to take the first step away from violence?"
Well, the fact that I received over 750 letters and emails, and still have over 446 letters to read (and I will read them ALL), with more arriving every day, I sure got an answer many answers! Thank you!!
Let me give you some initial insight into the letters I have read so far. At least eight out of ten letters have been thoughtful, clear, positive, with solid recommendations. Many authors want to personally be part of the solution, and that is commendable. Numerous writers have been so comprehensive and logical that if I were to share your letter with a criminal justice consultant company, they would hire you on the spot.
Your letters are a blend of theory, research, hopeful speculation and hard-gained experience. I saw that many of the programs we and our volunteers do offer (for example, Malachi Dads, Veterans dorms, Thinking for a Change, GED prep, college and vocational education, substance use treatment, etc.) have had an impact in your lives, and have been missed during this pandemic. The call for more programming is resounding, and I hear you.
I am sensitive to your needs and desires for more options to make positive choices to better yourself and prepare for that day of restoration to your community. I recognize the amount of wasted time, the amount of time you are idle. Due to the pandemic and reduced state revenues, this will likely be a tough budget year for everyone with hard choices ahead for our state leaders. But we will work to continue enhancing program opportunities.
I assure you that even though you don't get a reply, we have a process to quickly read and forward your letters to the most appropriate office for action, well before I block the hours necessary to personally read your letters. My staff and I value your observations, recommendations, and even criticisms. Many of you say this has been the most engaged level of communication between FDC leadership and you, in many years. We see that too, and it is encouraging for all of us. Hopefully you will see the results of your recommendations and continue to offer your perspective and insights.
One other theme was very clear to me in most letters. Many of you have learned that change cannot be forced upon you but comes from within by making positive choices and choosing a positive attitude. I sense that for those of you that have sent me letters so far, most of you have reached a point of maturity that you have found the good, even in your present situation. You set a good example worthy of notice and imitation. My job? Make it easier for others to follow your example to find the good.
Secretary Mark Inch, Florida Department of Corrections
Find Imagination
Dear Inmate Population,
The holiday period gave me the opportunity to continue to read the many letters you have sent to my office. I appreciate those of you that take the time to write and share ideas to help us improve our Agency. Some of you have taken a considerable amount time to gather your thoughts, observations and recommendations. Your recommendations range from major system changes, to more focused program ideas, down to personal requests. I personally focus on the broader system and program recommendations, though my staff do review and route all individual requests to the appropriate office. For this message, let me focus on just one recommendation from a small group of you concerning the reintroduction of Role-Playing Games (RPGs).
OK, before you roll your eyes and sign off, though I’m just talking about RPG’s right now, we are researching and considering many of your recommendations in our near and long-term planning. This is just an example. But this recommendation did catch my attention as I read your letters and it did bring back memories. Have you ever heard of Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson? They were the original designers of Dungeons & Dragons. They published a basic set of role-playing rules in a fantasy environment in 1974, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, “The Hobbit.” It was a three-booklet set that came in a white box with a picture of a Wizard blasting some goblins (or were they kobolds?). I still have that original box of rules. Now you can roll your eyes.
As you may have guessed, I was a nerd back then (really, still am) and have enjoyed fantasy books as a mental escape since I was in junior high. When a pre-computer gaming system came along that sparked my imagination and let me “live” in that fantasy world for short periods of time, with like-minded friends, it was very impactful. Besides being fun, as I look back on that period of my life, I realize that while playing these games I learned critical thinking, communication skills, and the ability to “imagine” beyond my daily experiences. I also learned that in role-playing, I could work to be my best self in episode after episode of adversity and challenge. Perhaps some of you did the same with computer gaming, prior to your incarceration.
Our imagination is an amazing gift and a deep reflection of what we aspire to and value. So many have written about the importance of imagination. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Muhammad Ali said, “The man who has no imagination has no wings.” Carl Sagan said, “Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” Nelson Mandela said, “The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much farther than the naked eye could actually see.” Stephen R. Covey said, “Live out of your imagination, not your history.” And going back almost 2000 years, Epictetus (a Greek philosopher that lived in Rome) said, “Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public.” Hmm, almost sounds like they had RPGs in ancient Rome. But please know, imagination is important, no matter our setting or circumstances. And just like our body, we must exercise our imagination.
I do not know how many of you played RPGs before incarceration or would be interested now. Maybe this is a very small group. I understand the security concerns with RPGs in a prison environment. But perhaps we can figure out a way to reintroduce this activity, without great risk. I will ask our wardens at the five incentivized prisons to develop (to imagine!) and pilot an approach to offering RPGs, and any other activity that might exercise our imagination. We’ll run that for a period of time and then assess whether it is safe to expand the availability of RPGs to all our other institutions. Fair? Please keep sending us your ideas on how to make our Agency better. Exercise your imagination! We will consider the merits of your system-wide and program ideas and determine which we can start in the short-term, and those that will take longer to research, secure resourcing, or even change statute.
As Florida's largest state agency, and the third largest state prison system in the country, FDC employs 24,000 members, incarcerates approximately 90,000 inmates and supervises nearly 155,000 offenders in the community.
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Dear Inmate Population,
This has been such a challenging period for you, your families, and our staff and volunteers. But in record time, amazing scientists have developed vaccines to protect us and end this horrible pandemic. Now the focused effort of the entire Nation is on producing millions of vials of vaccine to distribute to every corner of our Nation and the World, to put needles in arms. We started vaccinating our medical staff in February and at-risk correctional staff in March. The National goal is to provide vaccinations to every adult who wishes to get the vaccine by the end of May. Offenders can already get vaccinated following procedures and priorities set in their communities. For the incarcerated, we will start your vaccinations this month. When all staff and inmates have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, it does beg the question; now what?
The most common question I get from staff and the incarcerated alike is, “When can I take off the darn mask.” I know, we hate the mask, and you probably didn’t use the word “darn.” Let me answer that first, then we can talk broader issues. My position, unless changed by medical authorities and no surprises from COVID-19 variants, is that masks will become optional for staff and inmate, once all staff and inmates have been offered the vaccine and it is two weeks after the last administered dosage. We will build in voluntary vaccinations into our intake process and continue to adhere to good sanitation and standard pandemic control procedures. Once we have offered you the protection given by the vaccine, you should not expect others to take the special precaution of wearing a mask to protect you, if you will not protect yourself. Decisions have consequences.
Does that sound too harsh? I apologize. But we have all learned the hard way in life that decisions and actions have consequences. It is time for each of us to assess our personal risk to a truly terrible virus that has taken lives. I respect that there are some that have religious or philosophical reservations to taking vaccines. That is a very small minority. Most that do not take vaccines, do so for a variety of reasons; lack of confidence in the vaccine, pain aversion (that’s me!), fear of side effects, hope that a prior infection created enough antibodies to protect you (that’s me, again), belief that you are impervious to the virus, procrastination, plain apathy or laziness. You can probably think of a few more ways to rationalize ignoring this step to protect yourself. But a decision to not decide, is a decision to not take the vaccine. I have already had COVID, but I still plan on taking the vaccine, once all of you have had the opportunity to do so (I do think I still have some level of protective antibodies).
Here’s the bottom line. Science shows that the vaccines are effective and safe. Without the vaccine, you are at risk for contracting COVID-19, perhaps for a second time. This is an extremely contagious virus. If you get COVID-19, depending on your health, age, and other undetermined factors, you may be asymptomatic, get minor symptoms, get moderate symptoms (which I can personally verify are awful), or major symptoms that can lead to hospitalization, being placed on a vent, and potentially death. Is this really something you want to gamble on? In our state, you have the right to gamble, the right to refuse the vaccine. But please choose wisely. At a minimum, if you contract the virus you will be placed in medical isolation and those in close contact with you will be placed in medical quarantine. Decisions have consequences.
So, what about everything else? Is it time to get back to normal? Personally, I want us to get back to something better than what was our circumstances before the pandemic. We are already actively reaching back out to our volunteers, seeking out new volunteers, and approaching the business community to expand our programs. We are reading and researching your ideas for programming. We want to provide you a variety of positive choices, choices better than continuing a life of violence or idleness. Why? Because good decisions have consequences, much better consequences than the alternative.
FIND YOUR SMILE
Dear Inmate Population,
The most crushing day of my life was almost ten years ago, the day I lost my first wife of 27 years to cancer. Just a crushing, devastating, tragic day. On that day, and for many days, weeks and months to follow, I did not know if I would ever experience joy again or find my emotional balance. I wasn't sure I would experience any emotion other than anguish, despair, or at least abject sadness and emptiness. Those first months following her death are a dulled but still poignant memory today, but I clearly remember one thing that was very important during my initial grieving and later healing. That is, I held on to hope and had a willingness, made a conscious choice to feel all my feelings, even joy.
Prior to that horrible day, I had experienced trauma, stress and grief in my life. I had learned the importance of recognizing my stressors and acknowledging my feelings, all my feelings. As a younger man, following a military deployment to Somalia, I had taken a much longer than necessary path to putting post traumatic stress into perspective. For much too long I let negative feelings dominate my day and mind, and resisted opening myself up to more positive influences in my life the love and protection of God, love and care of my family, and the love and fellowship of friends.
One of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis, wrote a book called, A Grief Observed, after the death of his wife. The author wrestled with his feelings, famously saying, No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. Lewis learned grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape. He concluded that, You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.
We have just walked through a terrible valley these past fifteen months. For some, you have experienced the tragic loss of family and friends. I think there is value to stopping for a moment to reflect, and to look back over our shoulders, and see where we have been. The valley was dark at times for us all. But if we look hard, we see that the valley extended well before the start of the pandemic or even your incarceration or supervision (have we not all grieved?!). But now the path extends before us into the future. We as an Agency have climbed up out of the valley. Have you? What are you feeling? Perhaps the better question is, what are you thinking about your feelings?
I am convinced, through my lifes experiences and the teachings of others, that there is value in what we feel. Feelings are not necessarily a good foundation or measure for making decisions (lets not forget thinking and rational choice!), but feelings help balance our perspective of what weve experienced. We must acknowledge our feelings. Here is the key, we must let ourselves feel even the positive feelings, not just those feelings of sorrow we think we are supposed to have. Ive met so many who think the only appropriate response to tragedy, stress and life's challenges is to hold on to every negative feeling that presents itself. But what of the hope, joy, or just the warmth of appreciation to be alive?
During grief, or following a period of stress, you should allow yourself to also feel happiness, satisfaction, relief and joy. Allow yourself to smile without guilt. A couple of weeks ago I was at Putnam CI, watching a softball game between the men there, and a team from Sports Reach. As our team shook off months of inactivity, I noticed the smiles of those playing, and those in the stands (we, of course, had just dropped the mask requirement when outdoors). Last week, I visited Madison and Jefferson CI, checking on the status of our incentivized prisons expansion. Again, as I toured the recreation rooms and the upgraded rec yards, I saw smiles.
There was something right in those smiles, even as we come off the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, as our volunteers return, programs resume, visitation returns to normal, and the new budget takes hold, I think today is a good day to look forward and find your smile. No mask, whether made of cloth or by your own guarded expression, need coverup your smile now ??
Mark Inch
Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections
Last month I visited Franklin CI. During the visit, I dropped in on a Peer-to-Peer dorm and talked with the men for about 45 minutes. It was a good exchange of ideas and observations about the program, but soon moved to matters of criminal justice reform. This shift of topic from local institutional issues to broader state and federal criminal justice policy is a rather common occurrence during my dorm visits. Recommendations about criminal justice policy are a common theme in the letters you send me.
In a message I wrote you almost two years ago, titled “Find Hope,” I said:
You are at the center of an intense national debate. Leaders, legislators, legal and law enforcement professionals, professors, community organizers, executives from private organizations and major corporations are all talking about you. And if the number of emails I get is any indicator, many of your family members are focused on you as well. That focus means something very important and sure beats the alternative of apathy and indifference. There is real effort, expanding effort, to understand your needs and prepare you for your success as a returning citizen or to help you while under supervision. Real efforts are being made to help give you a second chance.
This statement was true then and couldn’t be truer today. I hope you notice the increased regularity of visits by the many legislators that take time to come to our institutions and probation offices to understand our issues and needs. These are your Senators and Representatives. Do you know them? Do you write to them? If I were to ask who is your hometown Senator or Representative, could you tell me their names? I know mine, and you should know yours.
Let me introduce you to my hometown Representative, Representative Brad Drake, and the Senator from Alachua County, Senator Keith Perry. Why should you want to know of them? This session, they have introduced legislation on our behalf. The House and Senate bills I am following most closely this session come from them: HB 433/SB 636, State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund.
Two years ago, Representative Drake and Senator Jeff Brandes sponsored two bills that, after seventeen years, reestablished the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund. The bills gave us the ability to spend an additional $2.5 million annually for wellness programs and equipment. Both the House and Senate passed the bills unanimously!
This year, Representative Drake and Senator Perry seek to increase that annual spending from the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund up to $30 million!! The money is specifically for your wellness, quality of life and rehabilitation program opportunities. This is significant and important legislation and I pray the Legislature will adopt it.
As we approach Thanksgiving, there are times it is difficult to focus on our blessings. The challenges of today can hide and overwhelm the positive if we let it. But know you are not forgotten, the Governor and many legislators do seek to improve your quality of life with education, vocational training and other rehabilitation programs. I have not met a single Representative or Senator that does not want you to succeed upon release or thrive under community supervision. They are your hometown Representatives and Senators.
This year, I am thankful that Governor DeSantis gave me the opportunity and privilege to serve as your Secretary of Corrections for the last three years. I hope you feel the changes that have happened and the direction we are going, even as we fought a once-in-a-century pandemic together. And if you appreciate the direction our agency took over these past three years, please take hope in the fact that Governor DeSantis accepted my recommendation for Deputy Secretary Ricky Dixon to serve as my replacement. I have complete trust and confidence in Mr. Dixon and look forward to seeing how he leads FDC out of our current challenges. But after over forty years of public service, this is the right time for me to retire and it is the right time for Governor DeSantis to appoint Mr. Dixon as the new Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections.
Yet, this year, I am particularly thankful for Representative Drake and Senator Perry for their personal effort to advocate for wellness programs on your behalf, with filing and championing HB 433/SB 636. We will know if the bills pass late February or March, but given the Thanksgiving season, we can count our blessings and be thankful for leaders, citizens, volunteers and loved ones who do not forget those in prison and are willing to come visit. For those of my faith tradition, we are certainly told to do so...and I will continue to do so as a private citizen.
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