Victim Services

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The primary function of Victim Services is to assist victims of crimes committed by inmates in the department's custody or under our supervision, and to notify victims prior to an inmate's release. Our office also provides referral services to victims with specific needs, such as counseling, support groups, crimes compensation, and crisis intervention. Our local number is (850) 488-9166 or toll-free: 1-877-8-VICTIM (1-877-884-2846). Please do not hesitate to contact our office for any assistance.

We understand that as a victim of a crime, your sense of safety and security may well be diminished. At the Florida Department of Corrections, we try to do all we can to make sure you have as much information as possible to help you deal with the issues you face.

What Happens After Sentencing?

Once sentenced to the Department of Corrections, the inmate will first go to a reception center for diagnostic tests and evaluations. The custody evaluation is based upon factors such as the sentence structure, outstanding detainers or warrants, age, education and recent employment history. Background factors such as previous terms of incarceration, previous escapes, and past disciplinary problems also affect the decision. The result of the evaluation is called a custody assignment.

An inmate's custody assignment is important because it determines the type of institution in which an inmate must be housed. It should be noted that an inmate's custody assignment could change over time because of length of time served, good behavior, bad behavior, etc. When the custody assignment changes, so can the inmate's location and it's possible for an inmate to be moved to a different prison. In some cases, the department will assign an inmate to an institution in the vicinity of his/her home to encourage family support.

Florida Gaintime

The legislature has historically provided for the award and forfeiture of gaintime to be utilized by the department as a management tool to control inmate behavior and motivate program participation. Florida statutes authorize the department to award and forfeit gaintime. There are statutory guidelines for gaintime awards based on offenses and/or prior criminal history.

For additional information on gaintime, please call the department's Inmate Classification Office at 850-488-9859.

Collection of Restitution

To pay court ordered restitution, fines and court costs, some inmates have the opportunity to work at paid employment, either through the Community Work Release Program or PRIDE (Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises). Payments are distributed on a regular basis to victims who are awarded restitution by the court and maintain a current address with the department. Victims may submit any changes to their contact information to any State of Florida Department of Corrections office.

  • Community Work Release: Inmates who work outside the confines of a Community Work Release Center, in private industry, are required to use 10% of their net wages to pay court ordered restitution, fines and court costs. Victims may request notification of an inmate's transfer into a Community Work Release Facility by contacting the Victim Services Section at 1-877-884-2846 (1-877-8-VICTIM) or Victim.Services@fdc.myflorida.com. Victims who have questions regarding restitution payments from inmates currently assigned to work release, should contact the Community Release Center Unit at (850) 488-9859.

  • PRIDE: PRIDE sets aside a portion of their corporate profits to pay court ordered restitution, fines and court costs for inmates who are employed in one of their industries. Payments are based on the number of hours an inmate works in a PRIDE industry and the type of job performed.

  • Probation: Offenders are required to pay court ordered restitution, fines and court costs while being supervised by Probation and Parole Services. To obtain additional information and assistance, contact the offender's Probation Officer, or the Probation and Parole Services Office.