Rehabilitation program could generate $4.73 in benefits for every dollar invested in Florida

A University of Florida study finds that expanding a workforce development and rehabilitation program for incarcerated women across Florida could generate an estimated $4.73 in fiscal benefits for every dollar invested.

The study, conducted by UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR), examines the potential fiscal, economic and social impacts of the Televerde Foundation’s Prepare, Achieve, and Transform for Healthy Success program, which was recently launched in Florida after demonstrating employment and repeat-offense rate outcomes among participants in Arizona and Indiana.

The analysis estimates that each participant could generate approximately $35,474 in cumulative fiscal benefits over five years through reduced incarceration costs, increased tax revenue and lower reliance on public assistance. For every 100 women who participate, the projected five-year fiscal benefit to Florida is approximately $3.55 million.

The PATHS program provides incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women with workforce training, professional development and reentry support. The program includes career training, industry-recognized certifications, job placement assistance and career coaching.

“These findings demonstrate that investing in rehabilitation and workforce development can create meaningful benefits not only for women returning to their communities, but for Florida as a whole,” Sandoval said. “When individuals have the skills and support they need to successfully reenter the workforce, the benefits can extend to taxpayers, employers and local communities.”

The study estimates that women who participate in PATHS would have a five-year repeat-offense rate of 3.9%, compared with an estimated 17.4% rate among women in Florida. The difference translates to approximately $11,919 in avoided incarceration costs per participant.

Participants in the program also have experienced a 54.1% increase in inflation-adjusted earnings, according to data from the program’s participants in Arizona and Indiana. Applying those outcomes to Florida, BEBR estimates that higher earnings could generate approximately $1,278 in additional annual state and local tax revenue per participant and reduce annual public assistance expenditures by approximately $3,433 per participant.

The economic benefits extend beyond government finances. BEBR estimates that increased participant spending could generate approximately $12,993 in additional annual value added to Florida’s economy per participant.

The study also points to potential improvements in housing and financial stability. Among Televerde PATHS participants included in the analysis, 45.6% reported purchasing a home after release, 68.1% reported paying off debt and 78.4% reported improving their credit scores.

The program’s Florida operations have only recently begun, so the study does not measure realized outcomes in the state. Instead, BEBR applied participant outcomes from Arizona and Indiana to Florida’s economic and institutional conditions to estimate the potential impact of statewide implementation. The analysis used participant-level data for 672 women who participated in the program in those states since 2020.