Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

PRIDE Benefits the State but Needs to Improve Transparency in Operations

Report 03-68, December 2003




Report Summary

  • PRIDE programs enhance prison security and increase opportunities for inmates to find gainful employment upon release. However, PRIDE sales have fallen over the past five years, as has the number of inmates it employs. A number of factors contributed to this decline in sales, including reduced state spending, privatization, and private sector concerns about using products manufactured by inmate labor.
  • PRIDE's new structure provides cost savings, flexibility, and liability protection. However, PRIDE has done a poor job of explaining its corporate restructuring. As a result, concerns have arisen that have hurt PRIDE's business development.
  • PRIDE should incorporate greater detail in its contract to clarify its relationship with, Industries Training Corporation, an affiliate, and develop a repayment schedule for the $8.7 million it has loaned the company. To protect its resources, PRIDE should also increase internal risk assessment.
  • The Legislature should revise s. 946.504, Florida Statutes, to specify the state's interest in property transferred to, acquired by, and transferred by PRIDE and its associated corporations.


Related Reports
  1. PRIDE Is Tightening Its Business Practices But Needs Greater Transparency
    Report 06-67 October 2006
  2. Progress Report: Corrections Program Still Challenged by Inmate Idleness, Prison Planning, and Fleet Maintenance
    Report 04-60 August 2004
  3. Progress Report: Corrections Education and Rehabilitative Programs Significantly Reduced
    Report 04-59 August 2004
  4. Review of the Department of Corrections
    Report 00-23 December 2000
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
criminal justice, corrections, inmates, prisons, recidivism, prison industries, correctional work programs, vocational training, inmate idleness, rehabilitation, prison security, juvenile justice, crime, corrections, sexually violent predators, sex offenders, treatment, ryce act, martin, liberty, mentally ill, desoto, monitoring, evaluation, high risk youth, recidivism, grant monitoring, contract monitoring