Silhouette of concertina barbed wire on a prison fence
A U.S. Department of Justice study found since 2006 there has been a pattern of sexual abuse at Florida’s all-female prison, Lowell Correctional Institute. Rep. Dianne Hart (D-Tampa) is filing bills aimed at cracking down on sexual abuse in prisons. Allegations from inmates at the all-women’s prison in Ocala describe sexual abuse, and other illegal treatment that have gone on for more than a decade.
“This is not an isolated incident this is not just Lowell, however the DOJ report talks about Lowell,” said Hart. “This is happening throughout the state of Florida and that’s why it’s so important that we begin to get this information out so people can better understand that you may be incarcerated but you are still a person.”
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FLORIDA In the wake of this year s mass protests over police practices, Florida s Republican leaders are embracing a decidedly pro-law enforcement agenda, including support for a new training program to help officers identify and address post-traumatic stress associated with their jobs.
What You Need To Know Resiliency Behind the Badge training program would address police officers PTSD
The program enjoys bipartisan support
Democratic state lawmakers, though, also want to see more accountability for police
The program, Resiliency Behind the Badge, has been developed by the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida State University s Institute for Justice Research and Development, and this month earned an endorsement from House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor).