Inmate labor from D.O.C. to Bradford County valued at $1.1 million

[Dan Hildebran]

According to a Florida Department of Corrections report, D.O.C. inmates logged 91,473 hours in Bradford County for the fiscal year ended June 30th, 2004, which state officials valued at $1,106,823.  The hours included those rendered to local government, other state agencies and contracted work squads, and included acti vities like landscaping, road construction, and maintenance.

According to the D.O.C. report, officials calculated the value of work by multiplying the hourly wage value of $12.10 times the hours worked. The hourly wage va lue of $12.10 was a benefited hourly wage value. The base hourly wage value was determined from the Florida Occupational Wages 2004 Edition prepared by the Flor ida Agency for Workforce Innovation. Added to this base hourly wage value were benefits for social security, retirement, health, and basic life insurance.

Statewide, inmates provided over $53 million in services.  Gadsden County received the largest amount of inmate labor, exceeding 10% of the state’s total .  Acc ording to a D.O.C. spokesperson, that county’s inmate labor value of over $5 million, was due to one labor arrangement.

“River Junction Work Camp is right next to Florida State Hospital,” said Debbie Buchanan.  “Each day, the work camp sends 165 inmates to work at the hospital.”

In June, 2003, the River Junction facility was opened, primarily to house D.O.C.’s elderly population .

Florida State Hospital is operated by the Department of Children and Families.  The Chattahoochee, Florida facility provides psychiatric and medial treatment to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.