From convict leasing to a $3.3 billion state agency

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Florida Department of Corrections manages the third largest prison system in the United States. While today it is a massive administrative machine, its origins lie in a controversial era of forced labor and a system that once viewed prisoners as economic assets.

The agency's roots trace back to 1868, when Governor Harrison Reed established Florida's first penitentiary at the Chattahoable Arsenal property. Originally a military operation under the Florida Adjutant General, the institution transitioned to a civil organization in 1871. By 1877, under Governor George Franklin Drew, the state implemented the convict lease system, a practice where prisoners were leased to private corporations for labor. This system was driven by a demand for cheap labor and the belief that hard work acted as a deterrent to crime.

The era of convict leasing ended in tragedy following the 1921 death of Martin Tabert. A 22-year-old arrested for vagrancy, Tabert died after being subjected to severe physical abuse by a whipping boss while working in the timber swamps of Dixie County. The national outcry following his death led the Florida legislature to officially abolish the convict lease system in a 31–1 vote on April 20, 1923.

Modernization efforts continued through the 20th century. In 1932, Warden Leonard Chapman introduced reforms at the State Prison Farm in Raiford, replacing the term 'convict' with 'inmate' and introducing educational programs. Later, in 1957, a major overhaul established the Division of Corrections, shifting the agency's philosophy from pure punishment toward rehabilitation. Today, the FDC is the largest agency in Florida, operating 143 facilities and managing a budget of $3.3 billion.

The agency faces ongoing complexities, including staffing shortages that required the Florida National Guard to assist in institutions from 2022 until the summer of 2025. It also manages significant demographic shifts and high-stakes operations, including the administration of executions by electric chair or lethal injection.

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