The Bureau of Substance Use Treatment offers services, develops and fosters resources to facilitate successful reintegration from prison into the community. The Bureau of Substance Use Treatment advances, coordinates and monitors quality programming to address criminogenic needs for inmates and offenders.

Substance Use

Substance use programming in the institutions and community seeks to treat participants with histories of dependency by focusing on changing the behaviors that led to the addiction. This leads to the creation of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to the safety and security of our institutions and the community.

• Outpatient – A four to six-month licensed substance use disorder Outpatient Program provided to inmates at designated institutions throughout the state, dependent upon individual treatment need. Outpatient programs provide individual and group counseling for inmates who have substance use disorder issues that are problematic in their life. Groups meet at minimum twice weekly with an individual session held monthly. Recipients are inmates housed in the Florida Department of Corrections who have been mandated for substance use disorder treatment program participation and have been clinically assessed for outpatient programming.
• Intensive Outpatient – A four to six-month licensed substance use disorder Intensive Outpatient Program provided to inmates at designated institutions throughout the state, dependent upon individual treatment need. Treatment occurs for half a day, at minimum four days per week, with a minimum of 12 hours of counselor supervised activities per week. These activities include group and individual counseling. Recipients are inmates housed in the Florida Department of Corrections who have been mandated for substance use disorder treatment program participation and have been clinically assessed for outpatient programming. The inmates spend the remainder of their days performing institutional work assignments.
• Residential Therapeutic Community – A nine to 12 month licensed Therapeutic Community (TC) program housed within an institution. Inmates are housed together in the same dormitory, segregated from non-program inmates. Services are provided in a positive, supportive environment wherein participants share similar problems of chemical abuse and patterns of criminal thinking. Inmates live and work together to change their lives while residing in the therapeutic community. The TC model emphasizes structure, responsibility, credibility, accountability, discipline, consistency and limit setting with consequences. Recipients are inmates housed in the Florida Department of Corrections who have been mandated for substance use disorder treatment program participation and have been clinically assessed for Residential programming.

Community Based Programs

The quality management of contracted residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment, outpatient mental health and sex offender treatment, post-release transitional housing programs and other diversion programs for offenders on felony supervision.

Community Based Transition Programs

Transition from prison into the community often presents obstacles for the returning citizen. These programs offer supportive services to include housing, employment, medical, and case management to overcome the barriers and reduce the likelihood of recidivism and victimization.

Media Coverage of FDC Community Based Transition Program Partners

WJCT NEWS

Gov. Desantis Aims to Reduce Florida's Recidivism Rate

Ron DeSantis speaking at Operation New Hope in Jacksonville. read more...

Re-Entry Initiatives

Support from the community can significantly increase the chances of successful re-entry, which is vital to a returning citizen’s future success. The FDC actively pursues engagement of community providers, agencies, and organizations, and invite community outreach to the inmate population preparing for release.

• Institutional Re-Entry Seminars – Institutional Re-Entry Seminars provide inmates with valuable information regarding employment opportunities, community resources, social services, housing, food, etc. to ensure a smooth transition back to their respective communities. Federal, state and local entities are invited into prisons to provide inmates with specific information relating to their services. Participants have the opportunity during a question & answer session to speak with each presenter regarding the services that are available to them.
• Peer 2 Peer Groups – P2P dorms are voluntary, peer-driven communities in which inmates housed together are focused on the common goal of positive change and growth. These inmates motivate each other through shared principles and concepts, including structure, accountability, personal responsibility, self-help and mutual help. Each inmate in the dorm holds a position, with responsibilities to fulfill. This means that the inmates are required to actively accept a degree of ownership and responsibility for the dorm environment they live in.
• Administrative Management Units – AMUs address the unique needs of general population inmates who have a record of predatory, disruptive, and potentially dangerous behaviors. AMUs utilize proven, innovative management approaches that enhance the safety and security of inmates. They provide a structured environment that sets conditions necessary to enhance and target rehabilitative programming. This programming focuses on helping AMU inmates realize there is an alternative to unproductive and violent lifestyles.
• Mentoring Academy – Training Academies for designated peer mentors at the Short Sentence Correctional Institutions providing a combination of experiential learning, role-modeling and didactic instructions. Participants learn how to build community and be appropriate program supports.
• Short Sentence Correctional Institutions/Units – Established housing for shorter sentenced inmates who have not formed a pattern of criminal behavior. These facilities will focus on program offerings targeting re-entry efforts while having the opportunity to be linked with peer mentors for support and release readiness.

P2P Dorm Completions

Region 1

Apalachee CI, May 4, 2021 K Dorm
Calhoun CI, May 27, 2021, Dorm J-2
Franklin CI, June 17, 2021, Dorm E-2
Jefferson CI, June 24, 2021, Dorm H-1,
Jefferson CI, Dorm G1
Gulf CI, July 29, 2021, Dorm C-1
Holmes CI, July 23, 2021, Dorm D-2
Walton CI, August 12, 2021, Dorm F-1
Okaloosa CI, October 14, 2021, Dorm B-1
Century CI, March 13, 2020, Dorm E-2
Century CI, April 1, 2022, Dorm H3
Liberty CI, April 1, 2019, Dorm A-1
Liberty CI, January 2020, Dorm A-2
Wakulla CI Annex, April 14, Dorm L2
Gadsden Reentry Center February 24, Dorm C2
Santa Rosa Annex, May 5,

Region 2

Columbia CI, June 4, 2021 - A1, January 17, 2022
Columbia Annex January 3, 2022, U1 & 2 dorm
Union CI, May 21, 2021 – J Dorm
Putnam CI, September 27, 2020, F2 Dorm
Madison CI, July 30, 2021 – L Dorm, Wing 3
Baker Re-Entry, October 22, 2021 – B1, C2 Dorm
Putnam CI, October 28, 2021
Cross City, March 18, 2022 – A1 Quad 4
Lawtey CI – January 18, 2022 – E Dorm

Region 3

Avon Park CI – 3/9/21 - A Dorm (6 quads)
Polk CI – 5/10/21 - B-2
Desoto Annex – 7/12/21 M Dorm (2 quads)
Lowell CI Main Unit L1
Sumter CI – 06/03/2022, F Dorm

Region 4

Martin CI, - 07/06/21- Dorm G3
Dade CI, - 08/02/21 - Dorm C1
Okeechobee Work Camp - 08/21/21 – Dorm B2
Sago Palm Reentry Center - 08/30/21 – Dorm A4
Everglades CI – 05/05/2022, G Dorm

Media Coverage of FDC Re-Entry Initiatives

FDC Begins Development of Inmate-Led Mentoring Program Inmates selected to lead curriculum creation for program to help inmates with short sentences prepare for successful restoration to their communities.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) assembled a team of 10 inmates from institutions across the state to participate in a curriculum development workshop for a new inmate-led mentoring program. The program will focus on reducing violence and providing guidance to inmates with short sentences (less than a year remaining to serve), with the goal of successfully restoring them to their communities as law abiding citizens.

“Inmates with short sentences are often unable to participate in long term betterment programs,” said FDC Secretary Mark Inch. “But there are thousands of inmates with longer sentences with wisdom and experience to share with these individuals. This program will pair longer sentence inmates as mentors with those in prison who need guidance at a critically important junction in their lives.”

Following a message and call to action by Secretary Mark Inch, hundreds of inmates applied to be a part of the curriculum development team for this groundbreaking mentorship program. Eight male and two female inmates with diverse backgrounds were selected to participate in a week-long design workshop, facilitated by FDC program, classification and security staff.

The design team will lay the groundwork for the program, which will combine experiential learning, role-modeling and instruction to positively influence inmates with short prison sentences. The innovative program opens a new path for rehabilitation and restoration.

“FDC security, education and substance use treatment staff will play an integral role in the success of this mentoring program,” said FDC Director of Office of Programs and Re-Entry Patrick Mahoney. “This program will create opportunities for enhanced cooperation and positive choices.”

Re-Entry Centers

Re-Entry Centers focus on preparing inmates for successful transition back into the community by providing comprehensive services that focus on evidence-driven practices. To strengthen the likelihood that inmates will succeed in their transition to the community, FDC has established four re-entry facilities, Gadsden Re-Entry Center, Baker Re-Entry Center, Sago Palm Re-Entry Center and Everglades Re-Entry Center.