The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC)

The government agency responsible for operating state prisons in the U.S. state of Florida. It has its headquarters in the state capital of Tallahassee. The headquarters of the agency are in the Doyle Carlton Building.

The Florida Department of Corrections operates the third largest state prison system in the United States. As of July 2022, FDC had an inmate population of approximately 80,000 and over 200,000 offenders in community supervision programs. It is the largest agency administered by the State of Florida with a budget of $3.3 billion.

The Department has 143 facilities statewide, including 43 major institutions, 33 work camps, 15 Annexes, 20 work release centers and 6 road prisons/forestry camps. It has more than 23,000 employees, about three-quarters of whom are either sworn certified corrections officers or sworn certified probation officers. The Department has K9 units statewide that are frequently utilized for tracking escapees and, in cases of small or rural law enforcement agencies, criminals who have fled from law enforcement or assisting in search and rescue for missing persons.

The Florida Department of Corrections is divided into four regions, each representing a specific geographical area of the state. Region I is the panhandle area, Region II is the north-east and north-central areas, Region III consist of central Florida and Region IV  which covers the southern portion of the peninsula.

There are several types of facilities in Florida, ranging from community work release centers to maximum security institutions.

The State of Florida operates almost all of its major institutions and most of its lesser facilities. Privately operated prisons in Florida are called "Correctional Facilities" (for example, Lake City Correctional Facility) while state operated facilities are called "Correctional Institutions" (i.e. Union Correctional Institution). Florida State Prison is the only facility in the state officially titled a "Prison"’

Florida prisons – green=state, red=federal

Capital punishment is applied in Florida. In 1995, the legislature modified Chapter 921 to provide that felons should serve at least 85% of their sentence.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

A state-wide investigative law enforcement agency within the state of Florida.

The department formally coordinates eight boards, councils, and commissions. FDLE's duties, responsibilities, and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 11, Florida Administrative Code. FDLE is headed by a commissioner (executive director) who reports to the Florida Cabinet, which is composed of the governor, the attorney general, the chief financial officer, and the commissioner of agriculture. The commissioner is appointed to his position by the governor and cabinet and confirmed by the Florida Senate.

The department is headquartered in Tallahassee, the state capital, and has close to 2,000 employees statewide. The department maintains seven regional operations centers, 12 field offices, and seven crime laboratories.

The 2023 US states by crime rate based on crimes per 1,000-residents:

             1. South Carolina       22.53

             2. New Mexico           22.41

             3. Tennessee            21.94

             4. Nevada               21.80

             5. Louisiana            21.67

             6. Florida              20.95

FLORIDA ANNUAL CRIMES                                      Population: 21,781,128 (2021)

Florida Violent Crimes

Florida Property Crimes

Locations where property and violent crime rates are far higher than the national average:

ü Leesburg Florida

ü Orlando Florida

ü Sanford Florida

ü Kissimmee Florida

ü Palatka Florida

ü Lake City Florida

ü Ocala

ü Gainesville