Montgomery Correctional Center

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≈ Montgomery Correctional Center 2003

The Montgomery Correctional Center previously known as the City Prison Farm started in 1958, on a 640 acre (2.6 km²) tract in the Northwestern part of Jacksonville, Florida.

Two large buildings were constructed for the prisoners and a third building was constructed to accommodate facilities for canning many of the agricultural products to be raised on the broad and fertile land that surrounded the prison.

The prisoners farmed the land and grew their own vegetables and raised pigs and cattle for meat and milk to be used in the Prison Farm operations.

By 1961, the inmate population consisted of misdemeanor offenders, averaged approximately 200 males and 50 females. By the end of 1962, the City Prison Farm was a self supporting facility, where they did agriculture, canning, freezing, meat curing, laundry and sewing.

With the consolidation of Jacksonville in 1968, the City Prison Farm was renamed to Jacksonville Correctional Institution.

In dedication to Director James I. Montgomery, in 1986, the Jacksonville Correctional Institution was renamed to Montgomery Correctional Center.

With the ever growing inmate population of Jacksonville, Florida the prison had to expand their facilities. In 1976, the "B" Wing was constructed to add to the men's unit. In 1985, the "D" Wing was added to the women's division which was known as the "C" Wing. The North Unit was construction in 1989, to replace the original "A" and "B" Wing. In 1994, the original "A" and "B" Wing was closed down. During 1999, the "B" Wing was renovated to become the new housing unit for the female population and the original "C" Wing was demolished. The "D" Wing was renevated in 2002, and has became the male annex.

Located on the north side of Jacksonville, Florida, Montgomery Correctional Center currently consist of two compounds: the North Unit is designed for the sentenced male inmates with a capacity of 440 prisoners; the South Unit ("B" Wing) is designed for the sentenced and unsentenced female inmates with a capacity of 160 prisoners. In addition they currently have an Annex ("D" Wing) that houses and additional 48 prisoners with a total population for Montgomery Corrections Center capacity of 648.

The Montgomery Correctional Center is committed to the safety in providing care, custody and control of the sentenced prisoners, while utilizing prisoner labor which has support the general good of the citizenry of the city by providing selected work programs throughout the city.

On a daily basis, nearly two hundred men and women prisoners work on the supervised prisoner work crews which work in many troublesome areas such as: where illegal dumping occurs; deteriorating neighborhoods and in special areas where citizens have requested assistance. The Federal, state and local government agencies have also utilized our prisoner work crews throughout Duval County, Florida to help defray their operating cost. Prisoners that are not able to work on the work crews are required to either participate in treatment or educational programs unless they are certified sick by a member of the medical staff.

Montgomery Correctional Center's services includes the Classification Unit, Maintenance Unit, Prison Industries, Food Service, Laundry and Sanitation.

The Classification Unit is responsible for assigning inmates to work crews throughout the Jacksonville community. The work crews have work and assisted the city with the Streets and Highways, Parks and Recreation, Jacksonville Electric Authority, and Park Maintenance. They also provide classification inmates for on-campus work crews such as the Agriculture Unit, Nursery, Metal Fabrication Shop, Machinery Repair Shop, Bedding Repair, Silk Screening and Shoe Repair Shops.

The Maintenance Unitutilizes skilled prisoners to provide maintenance the facilities physical plant. the Maintenance Unit has performed constructions and repaired multitudes of projects such as remodeling areas in the North and South Units' administrative buildings which accommodates the non-contact visitation center.

The Prison Industry Unit consist of a mattress/sewing factory, a shoe repair factory and a silk screening factory. The Mattress Factory repairs and recovers mattresses, pillows, blankets, prisoner clothing, and the mending for the Mounted Patrol and K-9 Units. The Shoe Repair Factory repairs and reconditions the prisoners footwear that is to be redistributed to incoming sentenced prisoners. The Silk Screen Factory provides silk screening for the prisoner clothing. Their primary responsibility is to print the Department of Corrections insignia on all prisoner garments used within the Department.

The Food Service Unit operated through a contracted food service and annually provides approximately 700,000 meals at an approximate cost of $750,000.00.

The Prisoner Laundry Service is responsible for over 10,000 loads of laundry every year.

The Medical Services is contracted through a medical provider which provides all aspects of the medical services for the prisoners at Montgomery Correctional Center, including mental health and dental services. Nursing staff is on site around the clock for any medical emergencies and a physician's assistant is available five days a week, and the physician is on site two times a week. There is always an "on call" physician available at all times. Sick call is available seven days a week and chronic care conditions are managed on-site, however, any special off-site referrals are taken to the City's Hospital, Shands of Jacksonville.

The prisoner's commissary is operated by a contract Corrections Commissary Service. They are responsible for handling all aspects of the commissary services for the prisoners. The program functions in a cost effective manner, providing the prisoners with essential health and comfort items.

Montgomery Correctional Center has a Chaplain Service which handles the delivery of emergency messages, religious concerns, personal issues, and family problems of the prisoners. They also coordinate worship services and the hours of volunteers.

The Agriculture Unit contributes greatly to our community. the Agriculture Unit saves the taxpayers of our community in excess of $150,000 annually by such projects as: mechanic's crew, landscape and nursery crew, and the metal shop crew.

The Agriculture Mechanic's Crew is responsible for doing (A), (B), and some (C) service inspections and minor repairs on the 30 plus City vehicles which are assigned to Montgomery Correctional Center. They are also responsible for the repairs and maintenance on 100 pieces of lawn and small engine equipment which is also assigned to Montgomery Correctional Center.

The Landscape and Nursery Crew is responsible for the daily pick-up and compacting of trash from the various areas of Montgomery. They also are in charge of mowing 20 acres and the lawn conditioning and trimming, and take care of removal of trees, clearing fence lines and ditches on the remaining 800 acres (3.2 km²). The Land and Nursery Crew also assist with the clean up and landscaping for the Police and Fire Pension Fund Office and the Help Center. They have also planted trees for the Florida Community College of Jacksonville North Campus and assisted with landscape duties for the Criminal Justice Training Center. The Crew has also been responsible for planting, maintaining and harvesting a two-acre vegetable garden which produces approximately 15,000 pounds (6800 kg) of fresh vegetables which are donated to nonprofit organization, including homeless centers, children's centers and senior citizen centers. The unit also maintains a green house that cultivates office plants, small shrubbery and border grass form cuttings and seeds which benefits the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, other city and county agencies and nonprofit organizations. This unit has received awards from Jax Pride and other similar agencies for their outstanding work in support of the City.

The Metal Shop Crew is responsible for designing and manufacturing equipment for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and other city and county agencies. They have built and installed doors, windows, wrought iron fences and gates and a number of other metal items for government end-users. They have manufactured dog kennels, dog boxes and modified vehicles to meet the needs of the Sheriff's K-9 units.

Montgomery Correctional Center is committed to establishing a creative climate in which their people are self-motivated toward the successful achievement of long-term, constructive goals in an environment of mutual respect, compatible with personal, interpersonal and organizational Core Values:

The Core Values are:

"Community Focused" We recognize that "The community is our customer. As such, it is the community who must define quality service. We will form partnerships with our citizens and listen to them. We will stay close. We will remember that every contact between a member of the community and any part of the Sheriff's office is where community opinion is formed."

"Always Improving" We recognize that "Our business is service. The only way we can improve our business is to improve our service. We are constantly in a learning mode. We are willing to examine what we do and make changes to improve."

"Worthy of Trust "The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has achieved its reputation as a premier law enforcement agency because it has earned the trust of the community. We will safeguard that trust. We will keep our promises. Whether on or off duty, we will behave according to the highest set of ethical standards. We will protect the rights of all citizens."

Respect for Each Other "Employees deserve a decent working environment, one in which relationships are characterized by mutual respect. We will listen actively, talk straight and act fairly. We will encourage each and every employee to contribute and grow to his/her fullest potential. We will work together as a team and appreciate the contributions of all."

Montgomery Correctional Center remains committed to the core concept of our management approach, our vision statement: "The Department of Corrections will strive to be the premier corrections agency within the United States. In pursuit of this vision, we will be; responsive to the Community, Restorative in Character, and Responsible in our Commitments."

Cited: Municipal Yearbook 1959-1960, Jacksonville, Florida Minicipal Yearbook 1961-1962, Jacksonville, Florida

Civilian Handbook of James I. Montgomery Correctional Center ~ Working for Jacksonville.