Fort Towson

Edit links

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is the government agency responsible for operating state prisons in the U.S. state of Florida. It has its headquarters in the state capital of Tallahassee.

The Florida Department of Corrections operates the third largest state prison system in the United States. As of July 2022, FDC had an inmate population of approximately 84,700 and over 200,000 offenders in community supervision programs.[2] It is the largest agency administered by the State of Florida with a budget of $3.3 billion.[3]

The Department has 143 facilities statewide, including 43 major institutions, 33 work camps, 15 Annexes, 20 work release centers and 6 road prisons/forestry camps. It has almost 24,000 employees, about three-quarters of whom are either sworn certified corrections officers or sworn certified probation officers. The Department has K9 units statewide that are frequently utilized for tracking escapees and, in cases of small or rural law enforcement agencies, criminals who have fled from law enforcement or assisting in search and rescue for missing persons.[4]

History

Water Towers at the Chattahoochee Arsenal

Governor Harrison Reed established Florida's first penitentiary in 1868 at the U.S. arsenal property at Chattahoochee. The two-story brick building was originally the officer’s quarters of the Chattahoochee Arsenal before becoming Florida’s first prison. The prison was governed as a military operation under the supervision of the Florida Adjutant General. In 1870, the state legislature passed a law making the prison a civil organization rather than a military post. In 1877, supervision of inmates was placed under the control of the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Convict Leasing System

Governor George Franklin Drew took office in January of 1877 and found the state in deep debt from Reconstruction. The Governor argued that prisoners should be economic assets to the state, beginning the convict lease system. Under this system, prisoners were leased to private corporations and individuals to work for them. The state was paid a fee from the leases and the private corporation or individual had to clothe, feed, house and provide medical care for the prisoner.

The program was initially very popular. People wanted criminals to be punished for their actions and earn their keep while incarcerated. Additionally, it was commonly believed at the time that hard work served as a deterrent against future crimes. The practice started slowly and became increasingly popular in the late 19th century as demand for cheap labor grew and because most people were unaware of the conditions and treatment of inmates in the convict lease system.

Martin Tabert

1921 portrait of Martin Tabert

Main Article: Martin Tabert

In December of 1921, 22-year-old Martin Tabert was arrested in Leon County for vagrancy. Tabert was ordered to pay $25 or spend three months at hard labor. His family immediately sent him $25 plus an additional $25 so he could return home, but through mishandling, the Leon County court never received the money. Tabert was sent to the Putnam Lumber Company in Dixie County as a part of the convict lease system, where he worked in the swamps cutting and clearing timber. In his time working for the Putnam Lumber Company, Tabert was subjected to physical abuse by the whipping boss, Walter Higginbotham, on a daily basis. When Tabert could no longer work due to injury and exhaustion, Higginbotham propped him up on his swollen feet and flogged him an estimated 50 times with a 5-foot leather strap. Tabert died that night.[5]

In the aftermath of his death, Tabert's parents brought the case to the attention of those in charge in Tallahassee. The story gained national newspaper coverage and Higginbotham was tried for first-degree murder, but he was later acquitted. The Florida legislature immediately ordered a joint House-Senate committee to investigate Tabert's death and conduct a thorough investigation of all convict camps where cruelty had been charged. In a 31-1 vote held on April 20, 1923, the convict lease system was officially abolished.[6] About a month later, the Senate passed a bill prohibiting the use of corporal punishment on county convicts. Governor Cary Hardee signed both bills into law.

Death row

Lowell Correctional Institution

Florida State Prison and Union Correctional Institution each have a male death row, while Lowell Annex has the female death row. Florida State Prison houses the state's execution chamber. Unlike other prisoners, condemned prisoners wear orange over shirts. Condemned prisoners wear the same blue trousers worn by other prisoners.[7]

When Lowell Correctional Institution opened in 1956 as the Florida Correctional Institution, it housed the female death row.[8] The prison now known as Florida State Prison opened in 1961 as the East Annex; at the time of opening it began to house the execution chamber.[9] At some point the Broward Correctional Institution housed female death row inmates.[10] Lowell Annex opened in April 2002.[11] The female death row was moved to Lowell Annex in February 2003.[12]

Inmate population statistics

Pursuant to F.S. 944.151(3), the Department of Corrections must annually report their maximum capacity, current population, and condition of their facilities' infrastructure to identify specific needs, if any, to the state legislature and the Governor.

Demographics

As of June 30, 2022, 93.6% of inmates in Florida were male and 6.4% were female. Of the male inmates, 48.5% were black, 38% were white, and 13% were Hispanic. Of the female inmates, 63.8% were white, 28.4% were black, and .7% were Hispanic.[3]

General Characteristics by Offense Type
Type of Offense Number Percent Avg. Sentence Length Avg. Age at Offense
Murder, Manslaughter 15,440 18.8% 36.7 years 28.5
Sexual Offenses 12,304 15.0% 25.5 years 34.6
Burglary 11,387 13.9% 15.9 years 31.3
Drug Offenses 11,008 8.3% 8.3 years 36.2
Violent Personal Offenses 10,633 13.0% 14.4 years 32.1
Robbery 9,654 11.8% 23.4 years 27.4
Weapons 3,997 4.9% 7.4 years 31.3
Theft/Forgery/Fraud 3,781 4.6% 6.4 years 37.3
Other 3,920 4.8% 7.1 years 37.2

Recidivism

The Florida Department of Corrections defines recidivism as a return to prison, as the result of either a new conviction or a violation of post-prison supervision, within three years of their prison release date. The Department began releasing annual recidivism reports in 2012. As of 2018, the recidivism rate was 21.2%.[13]

Recidivism Rates Over Time
1–12 Months 13–24 Months 25–36 Months Total
2008 10.2% 10.3% 7.1% 27.7%
2009 9.6% 9.7% 7% 26.3%
2010 8.8% 9.6% 7.3% 25.7%
2011 8.3% 10% 7.8% 26.2%
2012 8.0% 9.6% 7.5% 25.2%
2013 8.6% 9.3% 7.4% 25.4%
2014 9.4% 9.4% 7% 24.5%
2015 8.5% 9.2% 7.1% 24.7%
2016 8.4% 9.4% 7.6% 25.4%
2017 8.5% 9.6% 5.9% 24.1%
2018 8.4% 7.4% 5.3% 21.2%
2019 6.3% 6.8%
2020 4.7%

Juveniles

As of October 2023, there were between 50 and 60 inmates under the age of 17 in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Female juvenile delinquents are housed at Lowell Correctional Institution and males at Suwannee Correctional Institution.[3]

Budget

It costs on average $19,469 per year to incarcerate an inmate in Florida.[14][15] This includes $2.32 per day for 2,800 calorie meals.[16]

2011 budget cuts

In first quarter 2011, the State of Florida announced the closing of 6 institutions in order to save up to $30 million. Three prisons, two bootcamps, and a road prison were closed. Brevard Correctional Institution,[17] which is a youthful offender prison, Lowell Boot Camp, a youthful offender female boot camp, Sumter Basic Training Unit, a youthful offender male boot camp, Hendry Correctional Institution,[18] the female prison Hillsborough Correctional Institution,[19] and Tallahassee Road Prison were the institutions that were closed. No inmates were released as a result of the closing, and the employees of the closing institutions were offered jobs at other prisons. The institutions began moving inmates on April 1, 2011, and finished as of June 30, 2011. Hillsborough Correctional Institution and Sumter BTU were not closed.[20][21]

Governor Rick Scott ordered a second group of prisons to be closed. The Florida Department of Corrections stated that aside from the obvious financial reasons, another reason for the closings is because of a declining prison population. The following prisons were closed:[22]

  • Broward Correctional Institution
  • Demilly Correctional Institution
  • Gainesville Correctional Institution
  • Hillsborough Correctional Institution (large amount of pleas caused closing to be postponed after the initial closing)[23]
  • Indian River Correctional Institution
  • New River Correctional Institution (both units)
  • River Junction Work Camp
  • Caryville Work Camp
  • Hendry Work Camp
  • Levy Forestry Camp

Staffing

As of June 30, 2022, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) had a total of 23,525. The department had 17,498 certified criminal justice officers in institutions or probation/parole offices.[24]

The Florida Department of Corrections is constantly hiring to fill its ranks due to retirements, and turnovers. Florida Correctional Officers start at $48,620.[25]

FDC recruits are paid while they attend recruit training, and Officers can transfer anywhere in the State with FDC. Opportunities include K9 Team, Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT), Rapid Response Team (RRT), and Institutional Inspectors.

  • 15,280 Certified employees in institutions
  • 43 Correctional Officer Colonels
  • 85 Correctional Officer Majors
  • 298 Correctional Officer Captains
  • 426 Correctional Officer Lieutenants
  • 4,046 Correctional Officer Sergeants
  • 10,382 Correctional Officers
  • 2218 Non-institutional Staff
  • 137 Correctional Inspectors
  • 2,081 Correctional Probation Officers

Ranks, insignia, and uniforms

Rank Insignia
Correctional Officer Colonel
Correctional Officer Major
Correctional Officer Captain
Correctional Officer Lieutenant
Correctional Officer Sergeant
Correctional Officer
Correctional Officer (trainee)

In 2017, Florida Corrections Officers changed the traditional Light Brown shirts and dark brown trousers to Gray shirts and black trousers. The polo shirt was discontinued and FDC went back to gray button up shirts with breathable backs. In 2020 the polo shirts with embroidered badges and names were again authorized in a dark gray for Officers and Sergeants, and white for Lieutenants and Captains.[citation needed]

Headquarters

Doyle Carlton Building, current headquarters

The headquarters of the agency are in the Doyle Carlton Building in downtown Tallahassee. Some offices are in the Southwood Office Complex in Tallahassee. In 2011, the department moved into its current headquarters and office buildings.[26] The Department's headquarters were previously at 2601 Blair Stone Road in Tallahassee.[27]


Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Florida Department of Corrections, 38 correctional officers have died in the line of duty. Corrections Officers are frequently placed in dangerous situations where officers have lost lives. The Department has a standing memorial to officers who have died in the line of duty at the Wakulla Correctional Institution where the names of the fallen are carved into the memorial.[28]

FDC Line of Duty Deaths
Name Date of Death Manner of Death
1 Captain Ike Steel September 6, 1928 Stabbed
2 Correctional Officer Rufus W. Waters July 22, 1938 Gunfire
3 Correctional Officer William Henry Hunt August 28, 1945 Gunfire
4 Correctional Officer W.R. Brandon August 20, 1948 Gunfire
5 Correctional Officer Grant Dohner January 15, 1953 Assault
6 Correctional Officer John F. Gradon February 1, 1953 Assault
7 Assistant Superintendent James G. Godwin April 4, 1955 Gunfire
8 Sergeant Howard D. Starling July 4, 1964 Heart Attack
9 Correctional Officer Lester B. Sumner April 26, 1965 Stabbed
10 Captain James W. Parr, Sr. August 11, 1966 Drowned
11 Parole Officer William F. Gambill July 11, 1973 Automobile Crash
12 Correctional Officer Paul Jordan January 24, 1976 Heart Attack
13 Correctional Officer Lauriston F. Hustus July 16, 1980 Heart Attack
14 Correctional Officer Richard James Burke October 12, 1980 Stabbed
15 Probation Supervisor Bjorn Thomas Svenson August 31, 1982 Gunfire
16 Correctional Officer Donald L. Pawlizak April 21, 1983 Accidental
17 Sergeant John S. Dennard May 5, 1983 Stabbed
18 Parole Officer Michael Peter Serano January 6, 1984 Automobile Crash
19 Correctional Officer Fred Sidney Griffis June 24, 1987 Gunfire
20 Correctional Officer Hoyt L. Ergle December 15, 1987 Gunfire
21 Lieutenant Charles Andrew Cooper September 15, 1988 Heart Attack
22 Sergeant Kenneth M. Hendrick January 28, 1993 Heart Attack
23 Correctional Officer Lee Charles Dunn January 24, 2000 Automobile Crash
24 Correctional Officer Darla Kay Lathrem June 11, 2003 Assault
25 Correctional Officer Donna Fitzgerald June 25, 2008 Stabbed
26 Correctional Officer Adam Sanderson March 6, 2009 Vehicular Assault
27 Correctional Officer Gregory Malloy February 2, 2011 Gunfire
28 Sergeant Ruben Howard Thomas III March 18, 2012 Stabbed
29 Sergeant Jorge Ramos May 1, 2016 Heart Attack
30 Sergeant Joseph Ossman September 10, 2017 Automobile Crash
31 Correctional Officer Tawanna V. Marin June 18, 2018 Struck by Vehicle
32 Sergeant Robert Wayne Rogers July 31, 2020 COVID-19
33 Correctional Officer Jack Sale Stewart February 13, 2021 COVID-19
34 Correctional Officer William Fox March 4, 2021 COVID-19
35 Inspector John Annarumma March 6, 2021 COVID-19
36 Sergeant Derek Stewart April 28, 2021 COVID-19
37 Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud August 28, 2021 Gunfire (Inadvertent)
38 Correctional Officer Kelly Jo Klimkowski September 28, 2021 COVID-19

Criticism

There have been several recorded cases of corruption and prisoner abuse in the Florida Department of Corrections.

In 2007, the state faced lawsuits alleging "excessive as well as "malicious and sadistic" use of pepper spray," and "that its prisons subject too many inmates, including the mentally ill, to a prisoner 'warehousing' culture of unlawfully extreme isolation and deprivation, usually with little or no rehabilitation efforts to prevent recidivism."[29]

In 2010, there was a 10-count federal indictment against sixteen individuals connected with the FDC, eleven of whom were corrections officers at the Glades Correctional Institution.[30] The charges included "nine counts of attempting to possess cocaine with intent to distribute." The indictment alleges that the defendants "allegedly agreed to transport and did in fact transport on multiple occasions what they believed to be multi-kilo quantities of cocaine from the undercover warehouses in Miami-Dade County to locations in West Palm Beach", and that the defendants allegedly received a combined total of $145,000 through the drug scheme.[31]

In 2010, two correctional officers at the Lancaster Correctional Institution[32] were charged with malicious battery and cruel or inhumane punishment after an inmate collapsed in the exercise yard during routine drills. An investigation discovered that the correctional officers forced the inmate to perform strenuous exercises in the sand, heat and provided no water breaks while denying his request for medical help and failed to call for emergency help after the inmate collapsed. The inmate was in critical condition, but has since recovered.[33][34][35]

Press reports indicate that in June 2012, a mentally ill prisoner was forced into a locked shower by staff at Dade Correctional Institution. After more than an hour in the hot water, Darren Rainey died from his injuries. The investigation is not yet complete.[36]

See also

References

  1. ^ "SB 2500 — General Appropriations Act". flsenate.gov. The Florida Senate.
  2. ^ Brugal, Sommer (February 26, 2024). "Florida's prison population has grown since pandemic". Axios Miami.
  3. ^ a b c "Annual Report 2021-22" (PDF). FDC. Florida Department of Corrections.
  4. ^ "About Us -- Florida Department of Corrections". www.dc.state.fl.us.
  5. ^ "Florida History: The man who was killed over a train ticket". News Chief. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Carper, Gordon (October 1973). "Martin Tabert, Martyr of an Era" (PDF). The Florida Historical Quarterly. 52 (2): 115–131. JSTOR 30149028 – via JSTOR.
  7. ^ "Death Row Fact Sheet Archived August 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  8. ^ "Lowell Correctional Institution Archived February 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  9. ^ "Florida State Prison Archived October 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  10. ^ "Death Row Fact Sheet." Florida Department of Corrections. February 3, 2001. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  11. ^ "Lowell Annex Archived August 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  12. ^ "Broward Correctional Institution Archived April 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  13. ^ "Florida Prison Recidivism Report: Releases from 2008 to 2020" (PDF). FDC. July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  14. ^ "Quick Facts about the Florida Department of Corrections". Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  15. ^ Associated Press (March 22, 2009). "Prison's goal:Send inmates home for good". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 8B.
  16. ^ Flemming, Paul (December 12, 2010). "Public figures steal limelight". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 12B. Retrieved August 15, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Brevard Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  18. ^ "Hendry Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  19. ^ "Hillsborough Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  20. ^ Collette, Christopher. "Riverview facility among 6 Florida prisons to close by this summer[permanent dead link]." WTSP. March 15, 2011. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.
  21. ^ "6 Florida DOC Facilities to Close by This Summer Archived March 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." WCTV. March 16, 2011. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.
  22. ^ "Florida Department of Corrections to Close Prisons, Work Camps". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  23. ^ Bousquet, Steve. "Advocates make passionate plea for Hillsborough Correctional Institution to stay open". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  24. ^ "Personnel,2011-2012 Agency Annual Report". www.dc.state.fl.us. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015.
  25. ^ http://www.fldocjobs.com/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ^ "Department of Corrections - Central Office is Moving Archived June 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. March 22, 2011. Retrieved on July 12, 2011. "Department of Corrections 501 South Calhoun Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500 This is both the mailing address for all of Central Office and the physical address for the Carlton employees. The physical address for the Southwood offices is: 4070 Esplanade Way Tallahassee, FL 32311"
  27. ^ "Statement of Agency Organization and Operation Archived April 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 7, 2009. "2601 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500"
  28. ^ "Florida Department of Corrections, FL". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
  29. ^ Padgett, Tim (October 17, 2007). "What's Wrong With Florida's Prisons?". Time Inc. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  30. ^ "Glades Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
  31. ^ "State Correction Officers and Others Charged in Drug Trafficking Scheme Sixteen Charged in Undercover Corruption Investigation in Palm Beach County" (Press release). United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida. February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  32. ^ "Lancaster Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  33. ^ "Two Prison Guards Charged in Florida Inmate Collapse". Wctv.tv. November 30, 2010. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  34. ^ Steve Bousquet, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau. "State probes handling of prison inmate who collapsed during mid-day exercise | Tampa Bay Times". Tampabay.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  35. ^ Steve Bousquet, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau (December 1, 2010). "Florida prison guards face felony charges over collapse of inmate | Tampa Bay Times". Tampabay.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  36. ^ Behind bars, a brutal and unexplained death; by Julie K. Brown, October 14, 2014, Miami Herald

External links