The Florida Department of Corrections is the third-largest state prison system in our country. It holds approximately 80,000 incarcerated inmates and 145,000 offenders on active community supervision (probation, parole, or conditional release).

The largest state agency in Florida, the department has 143 facilities, including 50 state correctional institutions, seven private facilities, 16 annexes, 33 work camps, four reentry centers, 12 FDC-operated work release centers, 18 private work release centers, two road prisons, one forestry camp, and one basic training camp. Over 80% of FDC’s staff are either certified corrections officers or probation officers. There are more corrections officers employed by the FDC than any other position. But the starting salary is $38,750.14, less than $20 an hour, and raises are hard to come by.