Volunteers

The need for those in prison to receive as much help as they can to change is a need that will require many volunteers to be able to add to these offenders' lives. A requirement that is sorely lacking in Florida's prison system and just like almost everything about the prison system, it is set up to fail in this area.

The need for those in prison to receive as much help as they can to change is a need that will require many volunteers to be able to add to these offenders' lives. A requirement that is sorely lacking in Florida's prison system and just like almost everything about the prison system, it is set up to fail in this area.

Whether it is due to the rough disrespectful treatment from unprofessional guards... or the violence, (violence that would easily be prevented with effective administrators who knew how to get the best out of their inmates) that keeps the prisons on constant lockdown... or the rules and procedures that disallow those who would come into prison for no cost to the state budget and teach for free. Or being in such a rural area that the populace does not offer many volunteers who can take time from work to teach for free in prisons... or the lack of an organized structure needed to formulate a daily volunteer database (something that could be developed by college students - for extra credited hours - who are studying to become databases while also teaching "on-the-job training" to inmates who want to go into this career field)... or the fear of breach of security when it comes to untrained volunteers being manipulated into making a lot of extra money by bringing in contraband(something a full-body x-ray machine would solve immediately).

These are many of the problems that prevent volunteers from coming into today's prisons, and though they seem endless they are not. To every problem, there is a solution, and the only thing that has been missing is the desire to find the right solution.

Society-First seeks to be a platform to advocate for reform and to aid men and women in making a positive transition back into society. We are looking for solutions that will greatly reduce recidivism while helping society embrace its returning citizens.

We invite those who have been affected by this epidemic, whether an ex-offender, inmate, family member, victim, church, correctional officer, or simply a citizen to share their personal experience, solutions, or questions concerning all aspects of the criminal justice system.

More Problems

13

Tough on Crime

In Florida, there has been a culture maintained for the past 25 years, a culture that has been driven by the "Tough on Crime" policy. A policy that was meant to stop the victimization of our society.

15

Florida's Probation System

When it comes to Florida's probation (and parole for those still under the pre-1983 parole commission) systems, there may not be more of an unjust policy for ex-offenders who are trying to start a new life. The negative snowball created when probationers (who are not committing a new crime) are violated and sent back to prison, is a snowball that destroys everything in its path.

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Per Curriam Affirmed (PCA)

The legislature gave the District Courts the green light to escape correcting such injustices by simply creating the Per Curiam Affirmed (PCA) legislation, which is a proverbial brick wall that blocks access to higher courts without a written explanation.