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Board approves Dove Recovery House contract to restore women’s work‑release beds; judges say demand may outpace 10‑bed start
Summary
The advisory board approved a one‑year contract with Dove Recovery House for Women to provide up to 10 work‑release beds at an NTE of $110,000. Judges and advocates questioned whether 10 beds will meet demand and discussed options for future expansion and a facility assessment.
The Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board approved a one‑year contract with Dove Recovery House for Women to provide up to 10 residential treatment beds for women in work release, with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $110,000 based on a $30 per bed per day formula.
Justin Garcia and Scott Hull of Community Corrections presented the contract. Garcia said Dove would provide supportive housing, substance use disorder treatment, case management, mental‑health support, life skills training, peer recovery coaching and reentry legal support. He noted that while Dove’s facility has a broader capacity (described in the meeting as about 50–60 beds overall), the 10‑bed allotment in this contract is a starting point and that Dove is also completing a facility expansion later this year.
Judges and board members pressed for details about screening criteria and security. Jim Snyder and other members said that historically women’s options have been limited and that demand could exceed a 10‑bed capacity; one judge said his courtroom alone has multiple candidates who have few alternatives. Staff said Dove will screen residents and has not specified a strict exclusion list for violent or child‑abuse offenses at this time, but that some screening may occur. Garcia and other staff emphasized that the facility is secure — locked doors, cameras and visitor restrictions — and that many current Dove residents are already under supervision.
Board members and staff also discussed the longer‑term question of whether a new county work‑release facility should include a permanent women’s wing. Agency staff told the board that the County Council approved $100,000 for a facility assessment of the Duval Work Release Facility; staff said that the assessment will examine options for female housing and that whether to include a dedicated women’s wing would depend on utilization and budget considerations.
"I think they're gonna get filled quickly," one board member said of the 10 beds. Staff committed to coordinate with court administration and judges to notify them when Dove begins accepting residents and to re‑examine capacity after Dove completes its expansion.
