Florida’s prison system is one of the largest and most expensive in the nation. The idea of parole first emerged in the United States in the early 20th century as a means of providing inmates with an opportunity to be released from prison before their full sentence was completed. In Florida, the concept of early release took hold in the 1920s, as prisons became increasingly overcrowded and the state faced a growing financial burden of incarcerating large numbers of inmates.
The first formal parole system in Florida was established in 1925, following the passage of legislation that authorized the state parole commission to grant early release to inmates who had demonstrated good behavior and a willingness to rehabilitate themselves. At the time, parole was primarily seen as a way to manage prison overcrowding and reduce the costs of running the state’s correctional system.
Over the next few decades, Florida’s parole system evolved as both the state’s prison population and the demands on its correctional system grew. In the 1950s and 60s, parole was increasingly viewed as a tool for rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates into society, rather than simply as a means of managing crowding.
During this period, the state’s parole board began to place greater emphasis on evaluating an inmate’s potential for rehabilitation and their readiness for re-entry into society. The board also began to grant more frequent and earlier releases for inmates who demonstrated a willingness to participate in vocational or educational programs.
In the 1970s and 80s, however, public concern over crime and the perceived leniency of the state’s criminal justice system led to a backlash against the parole system. In 1983, the Florida Legislature abolished parole for all crimes committed after that date, except for a limited number of offenses that were deemed to be nonviolent.
Since the abolition of parole, Florida has used a variety of other mechanisms to manage its inmate population, including good time credits, gain time, and conditional release programs. Despite these measures, the state’s prison system remains one of the largest and most expensive in the nation, and some advocates continue to call for the reinstatement of a formal parole system to help reduce the number of people behind bars and improve outcomes for those who are released.
For a detailed historical view of parole and Florida go to: Florida Commission on Offender Review.