The Militant newspaper received word Oct. 10 that it has been successful in beating back a decision by prison officials at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton, Fla., to impound one of its issues sent to inmates who subscribe to the socialist newsweekly. On Sept. 9 the paper received a letter from the prison saying […]
The Shame of Our Prisons: New Evidence
As recently as five years ago, American corrections officials almost uniformly denied that rape in prison was a widespread problem. When we at Just Detention International—an organization aimed at preventing the sexual abuse of inmates—recounted stories of people we knew who had been raped in prison, we were told either that these men and women […]
FJI Objects to Proposed PREA Rule
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law that requires all state corrections agencies to develop rules that provide ways for inmates to easily report sexual abuse, and to ensure proper documentation and investigation of sexual abuse in prison. The Florida Department of Corrections proposed rules to comply with PREA; however, we believed the […]
Family Of Inmate Suing DOC For Prison Bus Murder
The family of a Florida prison inmate stabbed to death aboard a prison transport bus is now suing the state for failing to stop it. Eric Sexton was killed on the road somewhere between Jefferson County and Gadsden County and his family claims the correctional officers on board are partly to blame. We must warn […]
Guard-on-Prisoner Sexual Misconduct Happens Far Too Often. Why Can’t We Stop It?
The Albany Times Union recently published a three-part series about sexual assault and harassment in New York state prisons, and it’s worth your time. The articles are a sobering reminder that, despite what America’s tasteless comedians would have you believe, prison rape doesn’t always involve forced inmate-on-inmate sodomy. In fact, according to the most recent […]
Feds Reach $600,000 Settlement with Former Ill Inmate
A former inmate forced to undergo double hip replacement surgeries will receive $600,000 in a settlement with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Beginning in February 2009, Robert Hernandez writhed in pain for eight months before he was allowed to see a licensed physician. The unlicensed medical staff at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Central […]
Florida’s Prison Health Care Services to Be Fully Privatized By Mid-October
The privatization of prison health care services in Florida is expected to be fully implemented by mid-October. The effort, projected to save the department millions of dollars, caused thousands of employees to lose their state jobs. Speaking before a Senate Criminal Justice budget panel Wednesday, Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mike Crews said the privatization effort […]
FJI Secures Needed Surgery for Incarcerated Man with Painful Condition
An inmate who contacted FJI suffered from an extremely painful condition that can be cured by a simple surgery. However, despite years of requests, the FDOC refused to approve a visit to a surgeon for a consult. FJI sent a letter to the FDOC reminding them that failure to treat an inmate’s severe pain is […]
FJI Settles Case for Incarcerated Man Whose Hand Was Crushed by Guard’s Attack
While locked behind a steel door in his cell, an FDOC inmate put his arm outside of the door’s food flap to ask an officer about an upcoming medical appointment he had. The officer ran over to the door and kicked the food flap shut, crushing the inmate’s hand, requiring surgery and months of physical […]
FJI Settles Case with Bureau of Prisons for $600,000 Over Lack of Medical Care
FJI, co-counseling with the firm Alan Goldfarb P.A., filed suit on behalf of former federal prisoner Robert Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez was in good health when he entered the federal Bureau of Prisons, but one day he experienced a terrible pain in his hip. Although he complained constantly to the BOP medical staff—none of whom were […]
FJI Successfully Objects to Proposed Rule That Would Limit Inmates’ Abilities to Have Materials Posted to Internet
Attorneys at the Florida Justice Institute have successfully persuaded the Florida Department of Corrections to withdraw a proposed rule that would have prohibited inmates from having third parties post anything on the Internet. After the FDOC proposed the rule, FJI quickly sent a letter, signed by the Florida Institutional Legal Services Project of Florida Legal […]
Disabled Attorney Sues Hotel After Using Trash Can for Toilet
A quadriplegic attorney from California, forced to use a trash can for a toilet, filed a discrimination suit Monday against a Miami Beach hotel. Jennifer Kern, 47, of Berkeley claims a violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act and seeks damages for mental anguish. Kern planned a trip to Miami Beach on the end of a visit […]
Civil Rights Groups Protest Prison Internet Ban
“The Florida prison system’s attempt to stop prisoners from communicating on the Internet has run into a threat of legal action by three inmate-rights advocacy organizations that contend inmates don’t give up their First Amendment rights at the prison gate. The Department of Corrections this month withdrew a proposed administrative rule forbidding inmates to use […]
Supreme Court: California Must Continue Prisoner Release
WASHINGTON — A divided Supreme Court ruled Friday that California must proceed with the release of nearly 10,000 prisoners from its overcrowded prison system. In a ruling by Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court’s lone Californian, the justices refused to grant the state a reprieve based on progress on prison overcrowding. Read the full article.
FCC Bars High Rates For Long Distance Phone Calls In Jails and Prisons Nationwide
The Federal Communications Commission today took long-overdue steps to ensure that the rates for interstate long-distance calls made by prison inmates are just, reasonable and fair. Studies make clear that inmates who maintain contact with family and community while in prison have reduced rate of recidivism and are more likely to become productive citizens upon […]
FJI & Tripp Scott Settle Case for Spanish-speaking Couple Against Dania Beach Housing Authority
Carlos and Isabel Pomales are disabled, cannot work, and speak very little English. They tried to apply for a Section 8 housing voucher in Dania beach, but no application was available in Spanish, and all the employees of the Dania Beach Housing Authority refused to speak to them in Spanish. Because of their limited English […]
FJI Joins as Amicus in Prison Legal News First Amendment Case
FJI joined an amicus brief filed in Prison Legal News’ First Amendment Challenge to Pinal County Jail policies on publications. Although the court in the Pinal case found that the Jail had been censoring PLN’s books and magazines, it refused to grant injunctive relief because the Jail had changed its policy and had indicated that […]
Justice Department Finds Miami Police Used Excessive Force in Shootings
For the first time, a federal judge will monitor the Miami Police Department to enforce sweeping institutional changes involving use of force, after the U.S. Justice Department Tuesday found that several police-involved shootings were unjustified during a four-year period. The Justice Department took the unprecedented step after reviewing 33 police shootings of individuals — including seven black […]