home

8 Former Prison Guards Charged in Florida

By Jeralyn, Section Misconduct
Posted on Tue May 08, 2007 at 06:42:55 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

More "dehumanizing and degrading" behavior by prison guards, this time in Florida:

Prosecutors issued arrest warrants Tuesday for eight former prison employees accused of abusing inmates, including forcing some to clean toilets with their tongues.

The eight were among 13 prison employees who had already been fired from the 605-inmate medium and minimum security at the Hendry Correctional Institution in the Everglades. The previous warden and an assistant warden resigned, and three others were reassigned after an inmates was beaten and choked by guards in March.

Cleaning toilets with your tongue? If true, what scum these guards are.

< An Event for The Young and Incarcerated | LA Police Disciplined After May Immigration March >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    8 Former Prison Guards Charged in Florida | 11 comments (11 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Hey, this stereotyping (none / 0) (#1)
    by Deconstructionist on Tue May 08, 2007 at 06:47:22 PM EST
     how can you smear the entire class of prison guards by identifying these people as former prison guards when many prison guards are decent law abiding people. You choose to label them prison guards only to advance your hateful agenda.

    my comment was (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Tue May 08, 2007 at 07:02:32 PM EST
    limited to the eight guards charged. What's gotten into you?

    Parent
    Is this snark? (none / 0) (#3)
    by hellskitchen on Tue May 08, 2007 at 07:02:56 PM EST
    I interpreted the comment as applying to the 8 guards in question, not all guards.

    Parent
    sorry (none / 0) (#4)
    by Deconstructionist on Tue May 08, 2007 at 07:05:02 PM EST
      You have to be following the Fort Dix thread to get it. I was being facetious and was not really accusing you of being hateful.  Out of context it probably comes across wrong. I'm sorry.

    Ah, (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Tue May 08, 2007 at 07:14:39 PM EST
    In that light, at least as to what I wrote in that thread, it was funny.  (The Fort Dix thread is here.)

    Parent
    How can we be sure these guards (none / 0) (#6)
    by scribe on Tue May 08, 2007 at 07:47:07 PM EST
    didn't get their on the job training in Gitmo?

    by that I mean, (none / 0) (#7)
    by scribe on Tue May 08, 2007 at 07:48:02 PM EST
    there are a lot of county jail guards who just happen to have been in the National Guard and to have spent time working in Gitmo.  I'd suppose it's "good duty", when the alternative is Iraq.

    Parent
    Yeah, and how can we be sure (none / 0) (#8)
    by Deconstructionist on Tue May 08, 2007 at 08:32:00 PM EST
     the guards aren't part of a communist plot to undermine the government by committing atrocities under the color of law?

      If we're just going to throw out conspiracy theories without any basis in fact can't we at least be original once in awhile?

    These types of incidents sicken me! (none / 0) (#9)
    by Freewill on Wed May 09, 2007 at 01:07:32 AM EST
    I pride myself in being professional as a Correctional Officer. I've also, over the past 16 years, have encountered BAD Correctional Officers. The Hendry Correcional Institution noted in this thread seems to have a history of these types of illegal acts. These so-called Correctional Officers should face more than removal, they should be sentenced to the fullest extent of the law.

    It's hard enough trying to get many prisoners who have a long established hatred for the law to abide by any type of rule system. In order to maintain a well run, low violence prison there has to be RESPECT from all individuals within those walls. C.O.'s and all Staff must give RESPECT in order to receive RESPECT. The same golden rule applies to Inmates towards the staff.

    Prisons, like wining Wars, can not simply be controlled by violent acts. You can beat a dog for only so long before that dog bites you back. Most seasoned Correctional Staff understand these rules and when any staff member crosses these lines and engages in mistreatment of prisoners, Seasoned and Morally Competent Staff quickly respond to remove the threat being caused to the Safety and Well-being of their institution!

    From another article about this incident it appears this incident stems from an investigation about a March 21 abuse case.

    Prisons for everyone involved in the daily operations, make everyone, prisoners and staff alike do some serious soul searching about handling tough situations and dealing with CIVIL HUMAN INTERACTION. Unlike the stereotypes that people automatically believe about Correctional Staff, it is nothing like the old stories of staff brutality upon the inmates. No where near that in this day and age. The only reason people believe this is a normal way to operate prisons is because they only hear about negative abuse stories like this one in the media.

    If the public and its "Tough on Crime" mentality would for once allow real stories about what is really going on inside of prison to be aired on their local news they just might begin to see the real truth of how the 99% of Staff behave professionally. Unfortunately, this is not the norm so people automatically assume that Staff on Inmate violence is an everyday occurrence.

    Thank goodness to MSNBC, the History Channel, and A&E for broadcasting their prison shows. I wish more people would take the time to watch those shows. It's as real as it gets.

    As for all those Staff members involved in the acts in this thread. Take away their freedoms and see how the tables quickly turn on them! Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the Flordia Corrections Department is going to seek legle actions towards these Staff Members. Now that is real injustice!

    Give them a little "Hair of the Dog" medicine they were so eager to dispence themselves.

    Thank You (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jeralyn on Wed May 09, 2007 at 01:21:14 AM EST
    Free Will, for taking the time to comment here.  As a defense attorney, I've had clients praise guards and I've spoken with guards whose heads are in the right spot for the job.

    As with any other profession, there are bad apples.  I by no means criticize all prison guards or the profession by my pointing out those who deviate.

    Jeralyn (none / 0) (#11)
    by Freewill on Wed May 09, 2007 at 06:50:30 PM EST
    I know you don't criticize all prison guards based on the actions of a few. Because of my profession, my past experience as a Union Chapter President, my eagerness to learn, and my deep interest in politics and how it effects every thing in our world, when I came across this site I immediately felt like I found a place where I could participate.

    Please don't take my comments wrong. All corruption should be broadcast loud and clear. Those who commit any degrading acts towards an incarcerated individual should be ridiculed and offered up to public opinion to make amends for their wrong doings.

    The prison system that I work in (I hope you understand my concerns about keeping the state and institution name private) has seriously evolved for the positive since I started in 1991. New generations of Correctional Staff and Felons have had a huge impact on that change. However, changes were only possible because the Department itself was objective enough to criticize itself, problem solve and make necessary changes. The department is not 100% but I'm very proud of the changes so far.

    Please keep posting each and every prison story you feel compelled needs to be broadcast. You can't imagine how grateful I am to you for your concern on these topics! I'm a Correctional Officer and you are a Defense Lawyer, I consider this networking. Hopefully, each of us can share ideas and instruct each other. Most importantly, while our exchange is being done in a very public manor, others will engage into the conversation and share their experience as well. The more who become active in the conversation, the more chances that a positive solution can be hashed out. Thank goodness for the Internet for allowing this to happen. This type of exchange was not possible in the 90's and we must use the technology available today to broaden our learning capabilities so changes can be accomplished tomorrow!

    I could go on and on all night on this topic. I really have to apologize for some of my more lengthy comments but I've found that the more clear your message the less chances to be mis-understood. I'm a product of my work environment. I work in a place where 99.9% of its inhabitants are trying to find themselves and their place in life. Because of their soul-searching, I have been engaged for the last 16 years of my life soul-searching along with them. Needless to say, I learn something new each day and everyday is a new adventure!

    Thank you for everything you do Jeralyn! To me, you are a Hero and a voice that needs to be heard!

    Parent

    8 Former Prison Guards Charged in Florida | 11 comments (11 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment