Department of Corrections Requests $51.6M for IT Projects

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is requesting $51.6 million for five technology initiatives in its legislative budget request (LBR), as well as $100.8 million to address its operational deficit.

The agency’s largest request is $17 million for officer station network connectivity.

According to the LBR, this is the third year of a three-year connectivity project. In the first year, $3 million was allocated for officer station connectivity and $4 million for education lab connectivity, and $11 million from the inmate telephone contract will fund additional officer station connectivity in 2024. This project will complete fiber and Wi-Fi connectivity for officer stations.

Funding will improve safety statewide by providing officers with reliable technology to enhance security, education and inmate well-being.

Other department IT-related requests include:

• $17 million for the offender-based IT modernization project
• $14 million for an IT resolution plan focusing on applications
• $1.8 million for IT services provided to the Florida Commission on Offender Review
• $1.8 million for Florida Planning, Accounting and Ledger Management (PALM) readiness

The LBR also includes $100.9 million for its operational deficit to address shortfalls in salaries and benefits within the administration, community corrections and security operations programs.

More information about the department’s legislative budget requests can be found online.