#fldc

Nostalgia

She has been classified as a youthful offender by the department of corrections but not by the sentencing court. I’m not sure how those designations will play against each other.

According to her letter, she preferred to be with older women who took the position they were in more seriously than the younger, cockier, girls. Also, most programs aren't available to her as a youthful offender. There are only two possible women's youthful offender institutions that she can go to: Hernando and Lowell. http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/Females/status102001/femalefac.html

<br><br>Notes

There are two programming tracks for incarcerated youthful offenders: the Basic Training Program (BTP) operated in accordance with s. 958.045, F.S., for youthful offenders approved to participate by the court, and the Extended Day Program (EDP) created by the department for all youthful offenders who are not assigned to the BTP. Although the BTP is the statutorily-mandated basic training program, the EDP also emphasizes rigorous discipline, physical training, and positive personal development.

Basic Training Program: The BTP is a structured disciplinary program that lasts a minimum of 120 days and is <b>based upon a military basic training model with marching drills, calisthenics, a strict dress code, manual labor, and physical training with obstacle courses</b>. In addition, training is provided in decision making and personal development, along with the required general education development and adult basic education courses, drug counseling, and other rehabilitation programs. <b>The basic training day begins at 4 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. six days a week, with an extra hour of sleep allowed on Sunday</b>. <b><i>Successful completion of the program results in modification of the youthful offender’s sentence to a term of community supervision</b></i> in accordance with s. 958.045(5)(c), F.S. A BTP participant who fails the program is placed in the general youthful offender population unless he or she was decertified from youthful offender status based upon the statutory criteria discussed previously.

Candidates for the BTP are selected by the department from the entire youthful offender population and not only from those recommended by the courts. Candidates cannot be impaired, must be able to engage in strenuous physical activities, and have never been imprisoned in a state or federal facility. The department’s selection process must also include review of the candidate’s criminal history and assessment of the potential rehabilitative benefits of “shock” incarceration. <b>If a youthful offender meets these qualifications and is selected for participation, the department must seek permission from the sentencing court to place him or <i>her</i> in the BTP.17 In addition, a department-designated youthful offender cannot participate in basic training unless he or she is eligible for control release, a restriction that does not apply to court-designated youthful offenders.</b>

<b>The BTP for females is at CAMP Jones</b>, a 28-bed facility near Lowell Correctional Institution. The male BTP is a 112-bed facility within Sumter Correctional Institution. Approximately two-thirds of the 1147 youthful offenders who entered the BTP during the five-year period from 2005 through 2009 completed the program and had the remainder of their sentence modified to community supervision.

Extended Day Program: Only a small percentage of youthful offenders can take part in the basic training program, but the Legislature mandates that enhanced program services be provided to all youthful offenders. The EDP was created by the department to fulfill this mandate in a structured way. It is a regimented program that takes up 16 hours a day Monday through Saturday with work, academic and vocational counseling, personal development, and self-betterment programs. Sunday is used for religious services, visitation, parental support, and independent activities.

The EDP consists of 3 phases, with participants in each phase distinguished by the color of their cap: The Orange Cap phase is a two-week orientation to familiarize the youthful offender with what is expected of him or her. It is a basic training phase characterized by physical training, regimented discipline, and constant supervision. Inmate needs assessments are conducted during this phase so that programming can begin during the next phase. An Orange Cap must pass an evaluation on the orientation materials in order to advance to Phase II. The Red Cap phase is the level in which the youthful offender begins to participate in vocational, academic, and betterment programs and assumes a standard work assignment. Rigid discipline and structured physical training continues six days a week, but Red Caps have less personal supervision than when in the orientation phase and they may also be allowed limited privileges. It takes at least 4 months to complete the Red Cap phase. Requirements for promotion to the next phase include having a good disciplinary and inspection record, making positive achievement in vocational or academic courses, enrolling in at least one personal achievement or substance abuse program, and demonstrating high regard for positive discipline and respect toward self, staff, and others. Promotion also requires appearance before a staff evaluation board at which the youthful offender must explain his or her personal self improvement plan to the board, including short and long term goals and how the goals will assist in improving areas of deficiency. The Blue Cap phase is the final level of the Extended Day Program. A youthful offender who is promoted to Blue Cap status is a role model for other youthful offenders and is expected to be a positive example to his or her peers. Blue Caps are continuously evaluated to ensure that they are maintaining performance in responsibility, drill, work assignments, and education programs. Blue Caps can become peer facilitators and assist staff with certain activities, but only a few additional privileges are available to them. Approximately 241 youthful offenders are currently in Blue Cap status.

At Lowell Correctional Institution, 15 to 22 female inmates are engaged in a comprehensive year-long program which involves 22 written tests covering all aspects of horse care. The program trains inmates to rehabilitate retired thoroughbred racehorses for use by the Department of Corrections and other law enforcement agencies, adoption by the general public, and provide life-long retirement for some horses.