The Florida State Legislature has taken note of the high rate released inmates who return to prisons, known as the recidivism rate, and has invited development of 100-hour, pre-release curricula that would help inmates to become successful, law-abiding citizens.  A US Department of Justice study showed that over 2/3 of prisoners released from prisons in 15 states in 1994 were rearrested for serious crimes within 3 years.

The FIT program is based on the assumption that the identified modular topics can be best addressed by appealing to an individual’s religious values and modeling constructive behavior within that context.  To be effective, enough depth has to be developed to be meaningful.  We have therefore chosen strategic topics that focus on underlying basic needs and challenges to be overcome.

Module 1 emphasizes parenting and anger management,  life skills that are essential to real meaning.
Module 2 emphasizes the importance of raising expectations, perseverance and personal character.
Module 3 emphasizes handling losses successfully.
Module 4 emphasizes getting past hindrances and patterns that have kept success from coming
Module 5 emphasizes the life skills necessary to look long-term and persist in a job.

Focus is on the broad issues that determine a person’s value system: personal, relational, and overcoming life problems.  This goes beyond placing a "band aid" on serious underlying problems that won't come out until inmates "level" about their real issues -  a real challenge for those familiar with  institutional culture.   The materials and methods used here have already proven successful in other detention centers such as in Chattanooga, TN, California, Lakeland, FL and Lake Worth, FL.