Evaluation of Florida's Faith- and Character-Based Institutions, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 222717
• Author(s): Nancy G. La Vigne; Diana Brazzell; Kevonne Small
• Date Published: October 2007
• Length: 72 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Corporate Author: The Urban Institute
• Sale Source: The Urban Institute
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Overview Text
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Research report downloaded May 14, 2008.

Annotation

This study evaluated two Florida Faith- and Character-Based Correctional Institutions (FCBIs).

Abstract

The results show that FCBI inmates have no poorer recidivism outcomes than do similar general population inmates; staff, inmates, and volunteers overwhelmingly found value in the FCBI model and believed that it was achieving its goals of changing inmate behaviors, preparing inmates for successful reentry, and ultimately reducing recidivism. Although most of the outcome analyses were not statistically significant, the direction of the differences between treatments and control groups favors the FCBI model, with FCBI inmates reincarcerated at lower rates and after a longer time periods than their counterparts in the general population. The statistically significant difference between the share of FCBI and comparison group males reincarcerated at 6 months after release suggests cautious optimism regarding the FCBI experience and its relationship to subsequent offending in the short term. The mission of FCBI is to help inmates build moral character, develop spiritual resources, and acquire life skills that will lead to prosocial behavior both behind bars and after release. The goal of the FCBI model is to promote a safer prison environment, to support inmate rehabilitation, and to reduce the rate of recidivism. Data were collected at two Florida correctional facilities: Lawtey, an all-male facility located in Raiford, FL and the first facility to be converted to an FCBI, employing a staff of 233 and housing an inmate population of 810 community, minimum custody grade inmates belonging to 31 different faiths; and Hillsboro, an all-female facility located in Riverview, FL, and housing 287 female inmates belonging to 21 faiths, with community, minimum, medium, and close custody grades, while employing a staff of 144. Data collection involved one-on-one, semistructured interviews with facility administrators, correctional officers, program staff, and volunteers; focus groups with inmates; and analysis of administrative data on FCBI and general population inmates. Tables