Florida’s criminal justice policies are inequitable and outdated, resulting in thousands of people swept into the criminal legal system and unnecessarily incarcerated. Florida has the third largest prison population of any state, with roughly 90,000 people behind bars in state prisons and tends of thousands more caged in jails. Roughly 30,000 people churn through the prison system each year. Many are abused, exploited, and denied adequate medical and mental health care.
FJI seeks to end this oppressive system by supporting policy reform through litigation. By working with partners and using advocacy, litigation can contribute to and support these reform efforts.
The cases we bring seek to improve the medical and mental health care in prison, end solitary confinement, allow robust communication through free speech, end economic exploitation, prevent violence, and ensure disability accommodations are provided.
To see past examples of this work, see the Our Work page.
We are seeking help for a 57 year old black woman being held for more than a year in jail. On Monday May 13. 2024, Ms. Verdell T. Jones had her 3rd court hearing at the Swannee County Courthouse, at the request of the Public Defenders office I, her daughter and her two sisters appeared in court to speak on behalf of Ms. Jones. After 8 hours of waiting we were denied the right to speak. Ms. Jones was so overwhelmed until she fainted and hit her head. We believe her life is in danger. We need help!
My son is at Suwannee prison..He is in confinement n wants to be. He went to the bathroom at night and 3 gang members had a knife and when question whether he was in their gang he said when I first went to prison in I’ll. He had to get tattoos he is 53 now in Florida. The knife slipped n my son got out n asked for protection. In the last yrs he has covered all gang tags n these guys asked if he got permission to leave them. The guards are verbally abusing him and using him with intimidation. Making fun of him. He’s been beat up by 8 guys last time he was in n kept him in confinement til his face n body healed. I called people to talk to n I kept going up the ladder til someone listened and transfered him. He was beat up by a guard who tried to take a new Bible i sent him the right way at Hamilton..Now in suwannee they harass him in front of everyone that he’s scared to go to population. Took all belongings sheets mattress and didn’t give it back to him for 7 days because they didn’t want to make out paperwork again for being afraid for his life. My son has mental health issues n never been given either at all or what they want to give him..my husband n I moved to Alabama because we lost our home…my husband had cancer 3x he had chemo 2x surgery 2 x radiation 1x..He had triple bypass and ended up with an infection in that incision n needed 2 more surguries…we moved to Alabama n 5 months later got his 4th cancer.lived 1 yr n 7 months. No one should be treated like this..Here I. ALABAMA They have had at least 2 i.mates die n when there family had their bodies sent to funeral home organs were missing from. Their bodies. I’m a fighter n need help for my son
I cannot take another death. Especially my son with all his medical issues. Please help me.. Linda Montana harleyama7@gmail.com Thank you……
My mother is not receiving proper medical treatment in the Florida women’s reception center. She has epilepsy and it causes her to pass out and we have proof that this has been ongoing from every jail and now the prison. The medical staff at this facility is refusing to treat her and provide the medical care.
My husband is in Polk correctional institution in Fla. He was told his HIV levels were not good an 30points away from being full blown AIDS. He’s had HIV for 8yrs. 7 out of 8 of those years,he’s been undetectable. He’s only been in prison 7/8 mths an now he’s probably full blown AIDS. He’s normal weight is 220 he’s 145 pds right now. I’ve called the prison multiple times, nothing has been done,they haven’t put him on a different regimen of medication. So he’s just sitting in prison literally dying an nothing is being done.
My son is in Moorehaven Correctional institute. He was taken to the hospital. I called and was put on hold for over 30minutes and was hung up on. Noone would answer me. I am still a mother and wanted to know if my son was dead or alive. They are just dying in there.