A Work In Progress

Strategies for Transitioning Ex-offenders Program
A Guide to help you prepare for your release in Duval County, Florida (print these pages for future reference)

Many ex-offenders no longer have a family support system when they are released from prison or jail. This STEP Guide is intended to lower the recidivism rate by helping those in need with a Release Program that will help with their transition back into society.

By getting started BEFORE your release and exploring Social Service Programs ahead of time, it will help you to sustain reentry with support from Community-based Programs. These programs are designed to connect individuals who have left the supervision of the justice system with a network of social service agencies and private community-based organizations that provide ongoing support and foster mentoring relationships. Helpful STEP pages give information on where to get started with transportation from jail, emergency shelters, free hot meals, clothing, toiletries, how to get necessary I.D., and where to get day jobs.

Since there is criteria for each Service, it is advisable that you call/write in advance to find out what you need to do, what you need to bring with you, and what the rules are. You can write down what you have found helpful on the “For Your Notes” section, and use the "Calendars" to schedule appointments. Many agencies listed have waiting lists, so don’t expect to get what you need right away. Call in advance, and ask for other referrals. Don’t be discouraged if some of the items have changed. Just keep on trying and asking, and you WILL get the information and help you need.

Table of Contents

STEP ONE: Several days before your release, request that a PHOTO "Affidavit of Release" (PAR) to be ready for you when you leave. This will be necessary for shelter, a replacement I.D., and work. 
 

Transportation 

STEP TWO: Get transportation right from jail. An organization by the name of [name and phone number] will pick you up and drive you to an emergency shelter where you can register to stay for the next three nights. Over the next two days you will need to keep the [transporters] busy. Make arrangements to go to:

• the Social Security Office to get a replacement Social Security Card (bring your PAR).

• [name of organization] to help get a copy of your Birth Certificate.

• Clara White Mission  (613 W. Ashley Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202  354-4162  Fax: 791-4360  jpittman@clarawhitemission.org) to help get a replacement I.D. at the Dept of Motor Vehicles.

• [name of organization] for two sets of work clothing and boots.

• a Day Labor office to apply for work to get you started.

It is advisable that you don't have your "friends" pick you up from jail. Start off fresh by not associating with the "old gang." Find new, good friends, who will support you in your efforts to get off the ground on the right foot. People from your church or synagogue would be a good start. If you don't have a religion, we'd like to invite you to First Baptist Church on Ashley and Main Street. Contact [name and phone number] to get more information.
 

Emergency Shelters 

STEP THREE: Get into an Emergency Shelter where you will get clothing, a shower, a hot meal and a warm bed. Make sure you get as much work clothing as allowed at each shelter you go to. Bring your photo Affidavit of Release (PAR). A shelter we highly recommend is:

Trinity Rescue Mission  622 West Union St, Jacksonville, FL 32254 
Phone (904) 355-1205, Fax: (904) 355-1701  dmckinnis@trinityrescue.org  Hours: 24/7 
Provides temporary lodging for three days (once in each 30 day period). Shower, clothing and meals are also part of the free service. Clients are expected to attend short religious services during the three day stay. Trinity Rescue Mission has many programs to help you get started. If you decide NOT to join a program, you will have to leave in three days.

Here are other Shelters you can go to next:

City Rescue Mission / Christian Recovery Institute, 428 McDuff Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32254
Phone (904) 387-4357, Fax (904) 387-9377 Emergency shelter for homeless persons for three day for free. You may stay there longer for $5 per night.

Clara White Mission  613 W. Ashley Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: 354-4162   Fax: 791-4360  jpittman@clarawhitemission.org 
Provides a daily program with supportive services including clothing, shoes, toiletry items, picture identification cards and an information and referral service. Also provides transitional housing (males only) and vocational (culinary) training. An after-school prevention program for at-risk youth ages 6 through 17, is operated in partnership with the city at the Bridge The Gap Community Center.

I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless  611 E Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone (904) 359-0457x221  Sherry Burns (extension 247), eMail:  sherryburns@imsch.org
Fax (904) 359-0926  imshomelesscenter@imsch.org Hours: M-F 9am -Noon and 2pm-4pm 
Shelter and medical care to homeless and uninsured poverty stricken persons living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Services are provided on-site at the Sulzbacher Center on a first come first served basis. Services include, but are not limited to the following: primary health, dental, and vision care, pediatric specialty care, asthma clinics, diabetes screening, TB testing, psychiatric clinics, HIV/AIDS testing and case management, minor surgical procedures, and pharmaceutical supplies. Patients are screened and triaged to other specialty care programs as needed and as services are available. Full service shelter (men, women, children) including medical, dental, vision and behavioral health care.
 

Getting Your I.D. 

STEP FOUR: 
 

Job Services and Community Service 

STEP FIVE: 
 

Food Boxes and Hot Meals

Clothing and Toiletries

Low Income Housing

Veteran's Programs

Automobiles

 Recovery/Transition/Half Way Houses 

Alcoholics Anonymous 

Narcotics Anonymous 

Medical and Dental Services 

Mental and Disability Services 

Places of Worship 

Websites 

Other Information 

Probation Offices in Duval County:

040 - JACKSONVILLE - MAIN, 592 Ellis Road, Suite 114, Jacksonville, Florida 32254
(904) 695-4045 SC 851-4045, Fax: (904) 695-4019 SC 851-4019

041 - JACKSONVILLE NORTH, 10646 Haverford Road, Suite 5, Jacksonville, Florida 32218-6203
(904) 696-5970 SC 842-5970, Fax: (904) 696-5979 SC 842-5979

042 - JACKSONVILLE SOUTH, 4613 Phillips Highway, Suite 221, Jacksonville, Florida 32207-9502
(904) 448-4373 SC 880-4373, Fax (904) 448-4395 SC 880-4395

044 - FERNANDINA BEACH, 919 South 14th Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
(904) 277-7250 SC 848-7250, Fax: (904) 277-7254 SC 848-7254

045 - ORANGE PARK, 302 College Drive, P.O. Box 65355, Orange Park, Florida 32065-0006
(904) 213-2930 SC 893-2930, Fax 904-213-3095 SC 893-3095

046 - JACKSONVILLE S.W., 1945 Lane Avenue South, Jacksonville, Florida 32210-2781
(904) 693-5000 SC 851-5000, Fax: (904) 693-5034 SC 851-5034

047 - JACKSONVILLE WEST, 580 Ellis Road, Suite 118, Jacksonville, Florida 32254-3553
(904) 695-4180 SC 851-4180, Fax: (904) 695-4187 SC 851-4187

Region II Work Release Centers

Bridges of Jacksonville WRC (Male), (Contract facility),
5110 12th Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32209   (904) 674-0850 SC N/A

Dinsmore WRC (Male), P.O. Box 28847
13200 Old Kings Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32226-8847  (904) 924-1700 SC 833-1700  Fax: (904) 924-1704

Lake City WRC (Male), 1099 N.W. Dot Gln, Lake City, Florida 32055-2564
(386) 758-0535 SC 885-0535  Fax: (386) 758-1559

Santa Fe WRC (Male), 2901 Northeast 39th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32602-1202
(352) 955-2070 SC 625-2070  Fax: (352) 955-3162

SHISA- East (Male), 2830 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32205-8017
(904) 389-1303  Fax (904) 389-1302

Region II Work Camps, Forestry Camps, Road Prisons

Baker Work Camp, P.O. Box 500, US 90 E., Sanderson, Florida 32087-0500
(386) 719-4670 SC 885-4670   Fax: (386) 719-2775

Columbia Work Camp, 216 S.E. Corrections Way, Lake City, Florida 32025-2013
(386) 754-7600 SC 885-7600   Fax: (386) 754-7602

Cross City Work Camp, Post Office Box 1500, Veterans Road, Cross City, Florida 32628-1500
(352) 498-5576 SC 629-1330   Fax: (352) 498-1265

Florida St. Prison W/C, Post Office Box 747, State Road 16, Starke, Florida 32091-0747
(904) 368-2500 SC 830-2500   Fax: (904) 368-2729

Gainesville Work Camp (Male), 1000 NE 55th Blvd., State Road 26 East, Gainesville, Florida 32641-6067
(352) 955-2045 SC 625-2045   Fax: (352) 955-3119

Hamilton Work Camp, 10650 SW 46th Street, Jasper, Florida 32052-3732
(386) 792-5409 SC 872-5409   Fax: (386) 792-5432

Lancaster Work Camp, 3449 SW SR 26, Trenton, Florida 32693-5641
(352) 463-4100 SC 640-4130  Fax: (352) 463-3476

Mayo Work Camp, P.O. Box 1805, Hwy 27, North Mayo, FL 32066-1805
(386) 294-4752 SC 829-4500  Fax: (386) 294-4532

New River "O" Unit (Male), 7819 NW 228th Street, Raiford, Florida 32026-1000
(904) 368-3000 SC 830-3000  Fax: (904) 368-3205

Region II Major Institutions

Region II Office Richard Dugger, Regional Director
P.O. Box 718, Hwy 231, Lake Butler, FL 32054-0628
(386) 496-6704 SC 883-6704  Fax: (396) 496-6716

Baker Correctional Institution (Male)
P.O. Box 500, 20706 US 90 W., Sanderson, Florida 32087-0500
(386) 719-4500 SC 885-4500  Fax: (386) 758-5759

Columbia Correctional Institution (Male)
216 S.E. Corrections Way, Lake City, Florida 32025-2013
(386) 754-7600 SC 885-7600  Fax: (386) 754-7602  Annex: (386) 466-3000 SC 885-7600

Cross City Correctional Institution (Male)
P.O. Box 1500, Veteran's Road, Cross City, Florida 32628-1500
(352) 498-4444 SC 656-4444  Fax: (352) 498-4333 or 4334

Florida State Prison (Male)
7819 N.W. 228th Street, Raiford, Florida 32026-1000
(904) 368-2500 SC 830-2500  Fax: (904) 368-2732

Gainesville Correctional Institution (Male)
2845 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32609-2668
(352) 955-2001 SC 625-2001  Fax: (352) 334-1675

Hamilton Correctional Institution (Male)
10650 SW 46th Street, Jasper, Florida 32052-1360
(386) 792-5151 SC 872-5151  Fax: (386) 792-5159  Annex: (386) 792-5504

Lake City Correctional Facility (Male Youth) (Contract Facility) 
7906 East Highway 90, Lake City, Florida 32055-6290
(386) 755-3379 Fax (386) 752-7202

Lancaster Correctional Institution (Male Youth)
3449 S.W. State Road 26, Trenton, Florida 32693-5641
(352) 463-4100 SC 640-4100  Fax: (352) 463-3476

Lawtey Correctional Institution (Male)
7819 N.W. 228th Street, Raiford, Florida 32026-2000
(904) 782-2000 SC 859-2000  Fax: (904) 782-1388

Madison Correctional Institution (Male)
382 Southwest MCI Way, Madison, Florida 32340-4430
(850) 973-5300 SC 296-5300  Fax: (904) 973-5339

Mayo Correctional Institution (Male)
8784 US Highway 27 West, Mayo, Florida 32066-3458
(386) 294-4500 SC 829-4500  Fax: (386) 294-4534

New River Correctional Institution (Male)
7819 N.W. 228th Street, Raiford, Florida 32026-3000
(904) 368-3000 SC 830-3000  Fax: (904) 368-3205

Reception and Medical Center (Male)
P.O. Box 628, Hwy 231, Lake Butler, Florida 32054-0628
(386) 496-6000 SC 883-6000  Fax: (386) 496-3287  West Unit: (386) 496-6002

Taylor Correctional Institution (Male)
8501 Hampton Springs Road, Perry, Florida 32348-8747
(850) 838-4000 SC 295-4000  Fax: (850) 838-4024

Taylor Annex (Male)
8501 Hampton Springs Road, Perry, Florida 32348-8747
(850) 838-4002 SC 295-4002

Union Correctional Institution (Male)
7819 N.W. 228th Street, Raiford, Florida 32026-4000
(386) 431-2000 SC 831-2000  Fax: (386) 431-2016

For Your Notes:

Calendar of Appointments: 

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