The Department of Corrections has reached a last-minute deal with a non-profit group to preserve inmate transition programs in South Florida.
But Bridge of America President Lori Constantino-Brown isn’t happy about it.
When Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones said she was closing a Broward rehabilitation and transition facility to free up office space, powerful lawmakers protested. House Republican Leader Dana Young of Tampa said it didn’t make sense.
“I just don’t see this as apples to apples. You know we’ve got a successful program that is teaching out inmates that have paid their debts how to be functioning, useful members of society again.”
Now Jones says she’s worked out a deal that will still close the facility and result in a net loss of 61 beds, but not disrupt services. But Constantino-Brown says it will take six months to get a new facility up and running and the net bed loss is 122.
“Not to mention, 40 of my staff, who did nothing wrong but do their jobs, are going to get laid off because we couldn’t negotiate a better deal.”
Jones said she needed the room because a probation office was being rezoned, but critics have questioned it. A department spokesman says probation officers will be moving into the facility, adding more transition beds can be made available if the need arises.
