Florida Prisons: A human rights disgrace!
Many of you reading this post have an intimate knowledge of the Florida prison system. Either you spent some time as an inmate or you have a loved one who was or is incarcerated. You know about the corruption and inadequacies of the system.
Now, through a Miami Herald expose, the rest of the world will know what a cesspool the Florida DOC is.
The first in the series “Beyond Punishment” broke yesterday. It reports on the sexual abuse and mistreatment of female inmates at the Lowell correctional institution. It describes a long-standing pattern of atrocities committed against inmates, at the hands of the department of corrections staff. Stuff that one would only think happens in third-world countries, but is happening in our own State.
There have been many reports over the past few years about the significant number of inmate deaths in Florida prisons. Deaths are difficult to explain away – you can’t accuse the deceased of lying about their condition. But finally reports of the other atrocities that take place behind bars are coming out. The world is learning that the jailers, in many cases, are more corrupt and bigger criminals than the inmates.
Hopefully this story will gain attention and international human rights organizations will step in and put an end to the disgrace that is the Florida Department of Corrections.
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I was an inmate at Lowell and I can tell you it was both horrifying and terrifying the conditions and treatment suffered at the hands of not only other inmates but just as often at the hands of officers and staff. I’ve watched women lie in their bunks and die due untreated medical conditions. I arrived at Lowell just after a female inmate was beaten to death in a confinement cell by numerous female and male officers. I witnessed a male officer body slamming a female inmate on a concrete sidewalk. I watched another overly large officer tackle a petite female inmate from the youthful offender(under age 25) program. This is to just name a few of the things I’ve seen or been subjected to.
I was indeed fortunate that I was not on this “man’s” radar: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article2185954.html
A man I called friend was not so fortunate as he was placed in a cell with an inmate who had already killed and threatened to kill more sex offenders: http://on-murders.blogspot.com/2010/02/fl-franklin-inmate-stabbed-to-death.html. RIP Nate.
yet not a civil attorney that will take a case! How do you help your loved one then?
Notice, in the article, the ACLU is doing their investigation.
A Civil Attorney will take the case if they are paid. Legal Aid organizations have their plates pretty full. Sad, but in fairness, the ACLU is going above and beyond for us already so we appreciate them tremendously.
Sharon, What county do you live in? I may be able to help.
Their first excuse is that the inmates lie. The truth is that all law enforcement are high liars.