1. Send an Email to: fdcrulecorrespondence@fdc.myflorida.com
Write: (In this instance we ask that you write this exactly the same so they know we are united)
I am a substantially affected person under F.A.C. 120.536(3) as I am an approved visitor. This is my request in writing regarding all rule developments on visitation 33-601.713 - 3
1. Send an Email to: fdcrulecorrespondence@fdc.myflorida.com
Write: (In this instance we ask that you write this exactly the same so they know we are united)
I am a substantially affected person under F.A.C. 120.536(3) as I am an approved visitor. This is my request in writing regarding all rule developments on visitation 33-601.713 - 33-601.732 filed on 7/6/22 that FDC hold a public workshop pursuant to F.A.C. 120.54(2)(c). I also request FDC participate in negotiated rulemaking and appoint a balanced committee for the purpose of these rule changes to include Florida Cares Charity Corp. who represents thousands of visitors and incarcerated individuals.
2. Tell your incarcerated loved one for both themselves and anyone else they can get in the prison to send a letter right away to:
Office of the General Counsel
Attn: FDC Rule Correspondence
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Write in these exact words: I am incarcerated and a substantially affected person under F.A.C. 120.536(3). This is my request in writing regarding all visitation rule changes published on 7/6/22 that FDC hold a public workshop pursuant to F.A.C. 120.54(2)(c). Further, I request that FDC participate in the negotiated rulemaking process and appoint a balanced committee to include Florida Cares Charity who are our voice since we cannot attend the workshop.
3. Send an email to your legislator and any other legislators you can. Use this link to find your legislator: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/findyourrepresentative (state legislators are the ones with the Capital office address in Tallahassee) that says something like:
Dear [legislator]:
I am writing to let you know that on 7/6/22 FDC announced a proposed rule change that would reduce family visitation time at state prisons by 50% despite F.S. 944.8031(1) which states that “the Legislature finds that maintaining a prisoner’s family and community relationships through enhancing visitor services and programs and increasing the frequency and quality of the visits is an underutilized correctional resource that can improve behavior in the correctional facility and, upon release from a correctional facility, will help to reduce recidivism.”
In this vein I am asking you to participate in the FAMM Florida Cares #VisitAPrison challenge, which launched on July 11, 2022.
Please visit a prison nearest to you right away to speak with currently incarcerated people and officers working in the dorms to gain their perspective on how critically important visitation and other programs are while they are incarcerated.
After your visit, share about your visit on social media using the hashtag #VisitAPrison. Your social media post can include photos of you at the prison, or a short video sharing your impressions of the visit afterwards. FAMM and Florida Cares Charity will publicly recognize your visit and share your posts on social media to encourage other lawmakers to visit prisons also.
If you would like help scheduling your visit, please contact Florida Cares at (561) 855-0833 or info@FloridaCaresCharity.org with the date and time you would like to visit a prison and they will coordinate it for you with the warden to ensure a smooth arrival.
Thank you for serving our state and considering my request. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
We’re partnering with FAMM to urge lawmakers to take the #VisitAPrison Challenge. Lawmakers vote on sentencing and prison reform bills. They should visit prisons to see if what we’re doing is working. Ask your lawmakers to #VisitAPrison by clicking the yellow button below.
Save the date! Saturday, August 27th, 2022 at 3:30 pm in Jacksonville, FL. The location has been secured and is on the flyer. Florida Cares will host Representative Angie Nixon and you for an evening of food and conversation centered on the proposed Visitation Rule Change. You don't want to miss this!
Florida Cares is excited to announce we are hosting our 5th Annual Back to School Drive! Last year with all the wonderful donations we received we were able to provide over 200 children with brand new school supplies. Please help us continue to ensure that these children have the tools they need for a successful school year! You can access our Amazon Registry by clicking the yellow button below!
If it seems like we are behind other states in our criminal justice and prison system, it's because we are. One of the reasons we are is because we need help educating the public and spreading the word about our broken system and how we can make it better.
Our Beat The Heat challenge is an event to raise awareness of the extreme heat conditions that incarcerated people endure in Florida's prisons due to the lack of air conditioning and ventilation. To stay informed on the latest events, click the button below.
There are many talented artists within the Florida Department of Corrections and we would like to showcase their artwork! If you have a loved one that wants to participate, send an email to danielle@floridacarescharity.org to have their art featured on our website.
You can view the gallery by clicking the yellow button directly below.
A HUGE thank you to all of you for your help in providing back to school back packs to 222 children of the incarcerated and making a positive impact on these families and their children. We've also received numerous thank you calls from the guardians. This would not have been possible without all of you!!!
Another HUGE thank you goes to Laurette Philipsen for her tireless efforts on this project and to Catherine Ragonese who spent an entire day packing up each backpack and stuffing them with school supplies.
An article was also written about the Back To School Drive, which in return brought in donations from the Hillsborough County Firefighters!
We look forward to doubling the number of children next year as we continue to improve the lives of the incarcerated!
Florida Cares has cause to celebrate! We partnered with The Reentry Center of Rivera Beach, FL to conduct a Basic Computer Skills Class. Our first class of re-entering citizens completed their Basic Computer Skills Class taught by our own Don Stephens II! 16 weeks and they had perfect attendance! We took them to The Melting Pot to celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations to the inaugural graduating class of '21!!!
April is second chances month! We believe that people grow and change over time and should not be judged by a mistake they made in their past. What do second chances mean to you? #SecondChances
"I am grateful for the second chances I have received, and I am hopeful that I can pay forward to others the many gifts of mercy shown to me" - Thad Bereday
Redemption Radio Host and returning citizen
Stay up to date on the bills to watch this legislative session!
Stay up to date with our weekly session wrap up!
MARCH 2021 UPDATE: The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service has announced that the incarcerated are eligible for all three payments of $1,200, $600, and $1,400. To file your taxes for free, Click the button below.
Florida Cares Charity Corp. is a Florida Non-Profit Corporation dedicated to improving the lives of incarcerated individuals.
Are you passionate about what we're doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team!
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We can't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you.
Together, we can make a difference.
Florida Cares Charity Corp.
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 211174, West Palm Beach, FL 33421
Copyright © 2021 Florida Cares - All Rights Reserved.
Senator Brandes once said that criminal justice reform hasn’t happened in Florida because people haven’t presented it to be important to the legislator. Now is the time to act!