The programs unit develops programs together with local community volunteer organizations to help current incarcerated inmates make better decisions by preparing for their release back into the community. Many programs also assist inmates in providing the necessary education/skills to gain and keep employment. Inmates are encouraged to stay active in their recovery in order to become healthy productive citizens. Inmates will write a request for consideration to be enrolled and upon approval from classification will receive a notice to attend of course dates and times to attend.
Inmate Education Programs
General Educational Development – GED Prep
The GED Prep and GED Educational Services program is provided by the Brevard organization Links of Hope, and Brevard Adult Education through Brevard Public Schools. GED teaches 9th through 12th grades in preparation for the GED test by providing education in basic skills, such as Math, English, Science, Writing, and History.
GED Testing
Our Inmate Programs Unit employees are certified GED Test Proctors and provide the testing for inmates who have successfully achieved high school level grades through our GED Program. Upon successfully completing each subject, they test to earn their High School Diploma.
Juvenile Education
Brevard County Public Schools provides our juvenile inmates grade level education.
HIV Education and Testing
Facilitated by Unconditional Love Inc. Provides HIV Education and free HIV testing to inmates. Inmates interested can submit a request form to “Medical” to be added to the list for education and testing.
North American Learning Institute
NALI courses are provided in partnership with Smart Communications for those inmates that are Court ordered to complete a class during incarceration. A small sample of those classes are: Conflict Resolution, Life Skills, Behavior Modification and Drug and Alcohol Awareness. Upon completion of these online courses, the inmate is given an online test. If they pass, they are presented with a certificate directly from NALI.
Inmate Special Programs
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
A weekly group meeting includes discussions and sharing directed toward alcohol abuse recovery and/or drug/substance abuse problems and is conducted by volunteers from local recovery groups. The goal is to educate and rehabilitate. A certificate is provided after 4-weeks of attendance.
Anger Management
A faith based 12-hour course facilitated by Links of Hope is designed to help inmates gain insights and new strategies to effectively deal with stress and other issues that may cause anger. A certificate is provided after 12 hours of attendance.
Basic Finance
This class is designed to teach the inmates how to control their finances, terminology and scams to watch out for. Five basics include income, spending, savings, investments and protection. Upon success completion of this course, the inmate is presented with a certificate of completion.
Dignity for Men/Women
A faith based 12 hour course facilitated by Links of Hope provides a general overview of unhealthy relationships while expounding on the specific topic of abuse. Topics include physical, psychological, emotional, verbal, spiritual, sexual, financial, digital/social abuse as well as stalking. Each class provides specific strategies and options for recognizing and safely ending unhealthy and abusive relationships. A certificate is provided after 12 hours of attendance.
Life Skills for Women
In partnership with Links of Hope, our female inmates may attend this course that covers eight important areas in life, that if dealt with properly, may assist with lowering the recidivism with our female population. Attendees learn to understand what makes them the way they are and how to make peace with themselves. They learn about problem solving, making good choices and how to avoid conflict. Lastly, they learn about how to manage time, money and stress appropriately.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
A weekly group meeting includes discussions and sharing directed toward drug/substance abuse problems and is conducted by volunteers from local recovery groups. The goal is to educate and rehabilitate. A certificate is provided after 4-weeks of attendance.
Parenting & Decision Making
Parent Education is a faith based 12 hour program facilitated by Links of Hope designed to give inmates whom are parents the tools they need to raise their children effectively upon release. Our classes facilitate family relations by teaching inmates how to be supportive and actively involved within a family structure. Communication skills, negotiation, effective listening and decision-making are main objectives. The program goal is to improve the inmate’s reaction in conflict situations, to help them learn how to make better choices, and to realize the outcomes of decisions they have already made and the effects these decisions have made on their families. A certificate is provided after 12 hours of attendance.
Inmate Mental Health Programs
Weekly social skills groups consisting of: goal setting, decision making, stress management, communication skills, conflict resolution, coping skills, time management, and maintaining healthy relationships.
S.A.V.E Program – Saving American Veterans Everyday
The S.A.V.E program is designed to target the needs of the inmate Veteran population. The program identifies and assist the inmates who have proudly served our country in the armed forces. This program will give our Veteran inmates the ability to partake in a multitude of programs, such as Anger Management, Life Skills, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Chaplain Services. They also have access to community coaches and volunteers. Inmate Veterans who participate in this program will be housed in a uniquely designed pod to meet their needs, and assist in their transition back into society. The S.A.V.E. program reduces recidivism and ensures our Veteran inmates are given the resources which will enable them to effectively re-enter the community.
REACH – Redirect, Educate, Achieve, Challenge, Heal
The REACH program is a mentoring program designed to target recidivism in our juvenile inmate population. This program seeks to assist our juveniles by providing them with the necessary life skills required to assimilate back in the community.
Participation in this program gives our juvenile inmates the opportunity to take part in an eight-week course that will involve the fundamentals of life skills, interviewing for a job, budgeting, finances, self-care, anger management, goal setting and have a vision for the future. The REACH program will act as a starting point for a new trajectory of success in the lives of the juvenile inmates. It will connect our juveniles back in to the community once released.
Toastmasters
With the Toastmasters International ideals in mind, volunteers facilitate this eight-week course that guides inmates into the world of becoming the best communicator they can be. The inmates a required to give speeches to their peers, listen to constructive criticism as well as giving constructive criticism. The program is designed to boost confidence, improve communication and future leadership skills. A certificate is provided after 8 hours of attendance.
Vocational & Certification Programs
These programs are designed for inmates to give them the skills to gain and keep employment hence deterring them away from crime keeping our communities safe. These programs give inmates a practical skill, which will lead to certification. All of our vocational programs are available to both male and female inmates.
Barber Licensing
In partnership with the Rockledge Institute, llc, inmates that meet the criteria will complete a 600 hour course (400 hours of book work and 200 hours of hands-on training) in barbering and how to start your own barber shop. Upon graduation, the inmate will be tested and an application for licensure sent to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Until they complete their sentences, they will work as a barber for all of their respective housing units.
Digital Garment Printing Program
The digital garment program is designed to create a garment print shop environment in the Brevard County Jail Complex. This program provides training to the inmates on equipment such as the digital garment printer, the garment heat press, and the pre-treatment machine. This training provides the inmates the ability to turn their skill into a marketable trade after they are released from the Brevard County Jail Complex.
Floor and Sanitation
Inmates enrolled in this class will have classroom hours and hands on hours as they learn techniques by our International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) certified staff. Inmates will learn basic and advanced custodial maintenance, such as commercial cleaning, the chemistry of cleaning, hard floor surface cleaning and carpeted floor cleaning. Upon completion of this program, the inmate will receive a certificate of completion in conjunction with the ISSA.
Maintenance of Traffic – Basic Flagger Course
In partnership with the Florida Safety Council, this class teaches inmates the basics of Work Zone Traffic Control, which is an important function necessary in providing a safe environment in those areas where workers and transportation modes may compete for common space. After completion of the course work and successfully passing the exam, the inmate is given a wallet size card that may be used for immediate employment upon release.
Paws & Stripes® Canine Training Program
Shelter dogs from four Brevard County shelters are teamed with jail inmates for an 8-week course. The dogs are housebroken and learn basic obedience and the other skills necessary to earn their “AKC Canine Good Citizen” certificate. The dogs then return to their respective shelters, ready to be adopted into permanent, loving, forever homes. Meanwhile, the inmates study dog-training techniques, basic dog grooming, veterinary assistant skills, and Pet First Aid/CPR. In addition to earning a Paws & Stripes® Certificate of Completion, inmates also have the opportunity to earn their Level 1 or Level 2 Certification from the International Boarding and Pet Services Association. Dogs and inmates are all winners because of Paws & Stripes. If you are interested in seeing our adoptable dogs, or in receiving more information, please contact the Animal Care Center 321-633-2024.
Project Hope
Project Hope is an innovative program that provides a safe environment within the Brevard County Jail Complex for orphaned kittens. These kittens are raised and cared for by the female inmates. When abandoned kittens come to Animal Services in need of 24-hour care, they are examined by a veterinarian and then transported to Project Hope for a 2 to 6 week stay until they are old enough for adoption and spay/neuter surgery. The female inmate who participate in this program are provided an opportunity to learn techniques in kennel management, care, handling, grooming, and veterinary assistant skills for animals. These skills will be useful in job placement once the inmates are released from the Brevard County Jail Complex.
ServSafe Manager Certification
The Servsafe program is done in partnership with Aramark Food Company and is a combination of classroom hours and hands on training in our kitchen. Topics will include Hygiene and Health, Cleaning and Sanitation, Receiving, Storing and Serving Food, Temperatures for Food Safety, Safety in the Workplace and Preparing for Production and Success in Food Service. Successful graduation from this program is a jump start to employment as a kitchen manager upon release.
Sewing Vocational Program
No previous sewing knowledge is required. The sewing program gives inmates the chance to learn the skill of sewing. They start out learning to operate the sewing machine and master the basic skills of sewing. Once that has been mastered, they learn to cut out patterns, use an Elastic Machine, and Serger. They also learn how to repair previously worn clothes. Making inmate mattresses and Inmate uniforms are other jobs they perform.
Sheriff’s Farm Programs Include:
Landscaping, Horticulture, Planting, maintaining, implementing of field crops, trees, Operation of tractors and implements for planting and maintaining field crops. Repair and maintenance of mowers, small engine equipment, tractors, utility vehicles, utility trailers, irrigation systems, bicycles, construction and utilization of hand tools, welding and metal fabrication, and utilization of proper safety equipment and safety practices for various projects.
OSHA 10 Training
The 10-hour Construction Safety and Health course provides training for entry level workers on the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of safety and health hazards in the construction industry. The program is designed to reduce recidivism by giving inmates the skills to gain and keep employment. Upon successful completion of the course, inmates may earn a certificate and are issued an official course completion card that does not expire.
OSHA 30 Training
The course will provide another stepping stone to those inmates that have already completed the OSHA 10 Certification. This course is an introduction to worker safety and OSHA standards. The course prepares the inmate to recognize, avoid, abate and prevent health and safety hazards commonly encountered on construction worksites.
Chaplain Programs
Chaplain Services
The Chaplain’s Office provides a number of services to inmates. The Chaplain’s office is consists of over 100 volunteers from the community under the leadership of two full-time chaplains. The full-time chaplains are employed by Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, a non-profit organization.
SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Spiritual Counseling
Inmates can request to speak to one of our two Chaplains, or a pastor/clergy from their faith congregation. Inmates can reach out to the Chaplain through the request system to speak to someone.
Healing the Wounded Heart
Occasionally, some housing units will offer this specific program, which provides tools for dealing with hurts and trauma in an individual’s life. This program, when offered, is limited and signing up is required. The program meets daily and requires homework participation.
Bible Studies / Worship Services
Inmates can participate with studies and services that are offered within their housing units, where they are encouraged to engage the teacher in an interactive discussion. No signing up is required for these types of activities.
Sacred Texts
Sacred texts from various faiths are provided at no cost to the inmates, by inmates requesting one from the Chaplain. All sacred texts are donated to the jail by their respective faith groups.
Religious Diets
Inmates can request a religious diet from the Chaplain’s office. Diet requests are evaluated based on the religious affiliation of the inmate and any requirements of their respective faith.
Contact Information for Aftercare
Information pertaining to community resources, including resource name/address/phone, are provided to inmates upon their request to the Chaplain’s Office. Inmates can further seek the office of Jail Oversight for applications and/or phone appointments for these resources.
Emergency Notifications
The Chaplain is responsible for verifying and delivering emergency messages in the event of the death or serious illness of an inmate’s immediate family member.
