Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
ITEM 10: Consider a 10-year Management Plan Update for the PRIDE
Correctional Work Program at Apalachee Correctional Institution
LOCATION: Jackson and Gadsden Counties
APPLICANT: Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises (PRIDE)
STAFF REMARKS:
Background
In 1981, the Florida Legislature enacted Part II, Chapter 946 Florida Statutes, which created a
non-profit corporation to assume control over Florida's prison industry program. The Prison
Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. ("PRIDE") is the non-profit corporation
charged with operating the correctional work programs. Through the work programs, PRIDE trains
the inmate workers to become productive, self-sustaining members of society upon release from
incarceration. As the corporation statutorily charged with the operation of Florida's correctional
work programs, in managing such programs PRIDE must focus on its main statutory missions.
Section 253.034(2)(c), F.S states that, in general, lands managed as correctional and detention
facilities are not considered to be conservation lands. However, after passage of that section of
the statutes, it was determined that two correctional facilities contained significant natural
resources and engaged in significant forestry activities. After discussions with the Florida
Department of Corrections during 2001 and 2002, it was agreed that these two facilities would
continue to be under conservation leases rather than non-conservation leases, in order to afford
the Department of Environmental protection some oversight of the natural resource values on
these particular lands. Thus, conservation management plans are required for these two facilities,
of which Apalachee Correctional Institution is one. It is understood, however, that the nature of
these facilities is such that natural resource management is secondary to the primary mission of
the facilities on these lands, and that such management will be much more passive in nature than
would normally be required, and the plan was reviewed with this in mind.
The Property includes lands identified in Lease No. 2675 (sublease from Department of
Corrections) totaling approximately 3,569 acres: 1,945 acres located in Jackson County and an
additional 1,624 acres located in Gadsden County. The Apalachee Correctional Institution is
made up of an East and West unit. The East unit and surrounding land was originally acquired
by the State for use as a youthful offender facility constructed in 1947. The West unit and
surrounding land was acquired and used for a prison labor camp where the inmates grew food
and supplied labor to the nearby Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee. In later years, the
Department of Corrections began operating both units as part of the Apalachee Correctional
Institution. In July 1984, PRIDE took over the correctional work programs at the Apalachee
Correctional Institution from the Department of Corrections. Due to the fact that the lands were
purchased for and are currently used for correctional purposes, the property is not open for public
access. PRIDE intends to continue to utilize the Property for the operation of correctional work
programs pursuant to the provisions of Part II, Chapter 946, Florida Statutes, and the lease for
the correctional work program between PRIDE and the Department of Corrections.
Management Plan Overview
Since state acquisition, the property has been used for various purposes to support the adjacent
correctional facilities. Since July 1984, when PRIDE began operating the correctional work
programs on the property, PRIDE has utilized the property for prison industries including: dairy
farming, swine farming, beef cattle grazing, operating a sanitary maintenance products and bar
soap plant, forestry/timber, textiles, making automobile validation stickers, refinishing furniture,
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
harvesting pecans, operating a feed mill, vegetable farming, and poultry and food distribution.
The property is currently used for the operation of the following industries: warehousing services,
bedding supplies, forestry, farming and beef cattle production. At this time, no other uses of the
property have been considered by PRIDE as it is focused on operating the currently managed
correctional work programs. PRIDE is solely responsible for the management of the property for
the operation of the correctional work programs.
Forestry activities on the property are performed in accordance with the Five-Year Forest
Management Plan, which is updated every five years. The Five-Year Forest Management Plan is
developed using the Silviculture Best Management Practices, produced by the Florida Division of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, as a guide. Prior to any controlled burns occurring on the
property, PRIDE obtains authorization from the Florida Division of Forestry. Any sensitive areas,
including water recharge areas, are not actively managed for timber production. PRIDE's mission
in conducting the forestry activities is to meet the statutory purposes for the operation of the
correctional work programs as well as make an operating profit to help fund such programs.
The PRIDE managed lands of Apalachee Correctional Institution contain significant natural
resources. On the property, FNAI has identified six sensitive areas as having a high resource
value containing the slope forests, bottomland forests, upland glades and virgin timber stands.
These areas are home to several rare and endangered plant species. These sensitive areas as
well as the lowlands and swampy areas surrounding the property are relatively undisturbed and
careful attention is given to leaving those areas in an unaltered environmental state. The six
areas identified by FNAI are noted throughout the Five-Year Forest Management Plan. The Five
Year Forest Management Plan proposes management practices that will maintain the productivity
of the forest while insuring the protection of the natural resources of the property with regards to
timber, wildlife, native plants, soil and water by not disturbing such areas or flora and fauna.
Before any active forest management activities occur on the forest lands (other than prescribed
burning or timber cruising) or are implemented in any timber stand that is known to contain an
identified element, FNAI will be contacted. There are no goals, measurable objectives, or
associated budget specific to natural resource management as these lands were not acquired for
and are not actively managed for conservation. PRIDE does not have the manpower, funds or
statutory authority to undertake natural resource management activities.
Numerous cultural resources have been identified in the vicinity of Apalachee Correctional
Institution, and three historic cemeteries listed in the Florida Master Site File have been identified
on the PRIDE managed lands. PRIDE is aware that the property could contain unknown
historical, archaeological, and cultural resources. If PRIDE discovers a previously unknown
resource, staff will follow the procedures in the Management Procedures for Archaeological and
Historic Sites and Properties on State-Owned or Controlled Lands for protecting the site and
notifying the Department to State. Further, contained in the Five-Year Forest Management Plan
there are specific areas identified that require PRIDE to contact the Division of Historical
Resources prior to any soil disturbing activities being conducted in those areas.
The desired outcome is for PRIDE to be able to continue to operate such programs on the property
in the same manner as it has over the last approximately thirty 30 years. Due to the use of the
property for correctional purposes, the property is not open for public use or recreational
opportunities. Such uses are inconsistent with the operation of a correctional work program.
Public Involvement
There was no public involvement or local government participation in the development of this
plan. As the property was not purchased and is not managed for conservation and recreation
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
purposes, public and local government input into the operation of such programs would be
inconsistent with the correctional purposes set forth in Chapter 946, Part II, Florida Statutes.
Surplus Lands
No portion of PRIDE managed lands at Apalachee Correctional Institution have been identified
for surplus. PRIDE intends to continue to utilize the property for the operation of correctional work
programs pursuant to the provisions of Part II, Chapter 946, Florida Statutes, and the lease for
the correctional work program between PRIDE and the Department of Corrections.
State Land Management Review Team
In 1999, a Land Management Review Team conducted a review of approximately 2,000 acres of
forest land that was managed by PRIDE at that time. The team evaluated the extent to which the
then current management actions were sufficient, whether the land was being managed for the
purpose for which it was acquired, and whether actual management practices, including public
access, were in compliance with the management plan. The team found that the property was
being managed for the purpose for which it was acquired and that the actual management
practices were in compliance with the management plan adopted for the site. No other land
management review has been conducted at the property since this time. As noted above,
although PRIDE manages state lands, it is mandated in Part II, Chapter 946, Florida Statutes, as
part of operating the correctional work programs to manage the lands in a profitable manner so
as to be self-sustaining. As such, most of the comments and recommendations from the 1999
land management review were determined to be outside the scope of PRIDE's management of
the property.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the management plan contingent upon completion and inclusion
of a Forestry Management Plan approved by the Florida Forest Service by no later than June 1, 2015.
ARC RECOMMENDATION:
( ) APPROVE
( ) APPROVE WITH MODIFICATIONS: ____________________________________
( ) DEFER
( ) WITHDRAW
( ) NOT APPROVE
( ) OTHER: __________________________________________________________
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Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
A.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Lead Entity:
Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified
Enterprises, Inc. ("PRIDE")
Common Name: Apalachee C.I. Correctional Work Program
Location:
Jackson and Gadsden Counties
Acreage total:
Approximately 3,569
Conservation Easement Acreage: N/A
Lease/Management Agreement No: 2675 Use: Single _ Multiple X
Operate correctional work programs
includin forest and cattle activities
Designated land use: Multiple use
Sublease:
Yes, the lands are subleased from the Dept. of
Corrections
Encumbrances:
Easement to the Town of Sneads.
Type of Acquisition:
Not funded through a land acquisition program
Unique Features:
Slope forests and upland glades which are home to
several rare species.
Management Needs:
Redefine boundaries of leased land to include only
the acreage and facilities used by PRIDE.
Acquisition Needs/Acreage: None
Surplus Lands/Acreage:
None
Public Involvement:
None, correctional lands
PRIDE - Correctional Work Program at Apalachee C.I.
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Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)
Item 10: Apalachee Correctional Institution (PRIDE)