NCJ Number
75968
Date Published
1980
Length
367 pages
Annotation
A legislative investigation of Florida's prisons in 1980 found several weaknesses in the correctional system, including brutality, homosexual rape, nepotism, illegal drug abuse, and inadequate medical services for inmates.
Abstract
The investigating committee visited several institutions and collected testimony from corrections department employees and former employees. Although some information consisted of unsubstantiated allegations, other data were supported by official reports. The study found that employee brutality toward inmates and assaults of inmates by other prisoners were commonplace in Florida's prisons. Homosexual rape appeared to be a reaction to the blatant racial discrimination against black prisoners by white guards. A typical homosexual rape incident is described, and documented cases of brutality which were presented to the committtee are summarized. Excerpts from confidential testimony offered by correctional guards on brutality are included. Testimony from corrections personnel indicated that nepotism and family favoritism are major problems in the Department of Corrections. Lists of employees and their family relationships illustrate the importance of family ties in prison staffing and management. This situation has also led to the use of inmates in private work programs contrary to State law. The committee addressed correctional officers' grievances, particularly their demands for pay raises. It concluded that the reasons for high turnover rates were more complex than just salary issues and required further research. Witnesses before the committee described widespread drug abuse by inmates and contended that drugs were supplied by an unorganized network of corrections employees with the tacit consent of higher officials. Serious problems in the prison classification system were identified, such as assigning inmates to institutions far away from their homes and placing young nonviolent offenders in maximum security prisons. Accounts of three inmates' deaths demonstrates the poor quality of prison medical care. The committee's recommendations to improve the prison system are outlined. The appendixes contain results of the polygraph examinations administered to correctional officers who testified; reports on alleged brutality by the prison inspector; inmates' statesments; documents on nepotism, favoritism, and medical services; statistics on Union County jail housing of State inmates; and materials from other State investigations of correctional facilities.