HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-010RESOLUTION NO. 2012-010
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF
THE INDIAN RIVER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
WHEREAS, the Indian River Correctional Institution is located in Indian River County,
Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Indian River Correctional Institution houses approximately 360 male
youthful offenders (ages 14-18), who benefit from academic, vocational, chaplaincy, and
betterment programs provided at the institution; and
WHEREAS, the Indian River Correctional Institution is significant in that it is the only
correctional institution for male youthful offenders (ages 14-18) operated by the Florida
Department of Corrections; and
WHEREAS, the Indian River Correctional Institution's impact on our society is
substantial, because since 1978 over 2,000 youthful offenders have earned their General
Education Degree from Indian River Correctional Institution. Indian River Correctional
Institution remains first in the state for General Education Degrees earned by youthful offenders.
This is important, because a youthful offender that earns his General Education Degree is 7.9
percent less likely to return to prison in the future. A youthful offender that earns his vocational
certificate is 14 percent less likely to recidivate, and a youthful offender that earns both his
General Education Degree and a vocational certificate is 18.3 percent less likely to recidivate;
and
WHEREAS, the Indian River Correctional Institution employs approximately 214 FTE's
earning an average of $45,099 in salary and benefits, resulting in a direct economic benefit to
Indian River County of nearly $10 million; and
WHEREAS, on January 12, 2012, the Florida Department of Corrections announced its
intention to close the Indian River Correctional Institution by May 1, 2012; and
WHEREAS, the process through which the Florida Department of Corrections selected
the Indian River Correctional Institution for closure (evaluation by an "internal workgroup") was
neither open nor transparent; nor were members of the public, including the residents of Indian
River County and their community, business or elected leaders, afforded an opportunity to
comment on the closure prior to announcement of the closure decision; and
WHEREAS, according to the Florida Department of Corrections, one of the criteria
which resulted in the selection of the Indian River Correctional Institution for closure was
"community impact." However, by not soliciting public comment from the residents and leaders
of Indian River County, the Florida Department of Corrections was not able properly to assess
the impact to the Indian River County community; and
WHEREAS, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
unemployment rate in Indian River County is 11.4%, which is the ninth worst unemployment
rate among Florida's sixty-seven counties, a position which will surely decline further if the
Indian River Correctional Institution is closed as scheduled; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 2012-010
WHEREAS, the closure of the Indian River Correctional Institution will in fact have a
very serious and negative impact on the community of Indian River County, which impact has
not properly been considered by the Florida Department of Corrections during its non-public
selection process,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA:
FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, WHICH ARE HEREBY
INCORPORATED, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER
COUNTY HEREBY URGES THE GOVERNOR AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS TO REVERSE THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED DECISION TO CLOSE
THE INDIAN RIVER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OR, AT A MINIMUM, TO REOPEN
THE CLOSURE SELECTION PROCESS SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY, BUSINESS AND ELECTED
LEADERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY MAY BE HEARD ON THIS MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
The foregoing resolution was moved for adoption by Commissioner Flescher, and
seconded by Commissioner Wheeler, and, upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows:
Chairman Gary C. Wheeler
aye
Vice Chairman Peter D. O'Bryan
aye
Commissioner Wesley S. Davis
_Aye
Commissioner Joseph E. Flescher
ave
Commissioner Bob Solari
_Aye
The Chairman thereupon declared the resolution duly passed and adopted this 14th day
of February, 2012.
ATTEST: Jeffrey K. Barton, Clerk of Court
By:
Deputy Clerk
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
By: GC��=�✓
Gary C. eler, Chairman
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: tion date: February 14th , 2012.
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By.
Alan S. Pdlackwich, Sr., County Attarniy �4Q:
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