TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following the questionable deaths of inmates at two Florida prisons, the Department of Corrections instituted new disciplinary rules in September, but a 13-year veteran of the DOC said little has changed.
The corrections officer, who asked to remain anonymous for his safety, painted a picture of intimidation, harassment and an administration intent on protecting itself from scrutiny.
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"I feel my life is in more danger than it has ever been," the officer said.
In September, the top brass at the DOC issued a memo after reports of beatings and several deaths at prisons across the state. It outlined offenses that would result in dismissal in an effort to protect inmates from abuse, but the officer said the changes have had little impact.
"It makes more officers feel more – look, if you get caught, you get fired. That part, yes, I would say (has improved), but you still have what they call the good old boy system," the officer said. "The good old boy system ain't never gonna leave. 'We're gonna discipline him the right way.' You still have that going on at a lot of the institutions."
The officer said 'the right way' for those officers involves beatings.
The officer painted a picture of a system so understaffed due to turnover that drugs and cellphones are easily smuggled in.
"You may have officers out there that just don't give a flap," the officer said.
The Department of Corrections offered a statement when asked about the correctional officer's concerns. The statement reads in part, "We expect our staff to understand that when they are exposed to something that they know is fundamentally, morally or legally wrong, they have a responsibility to report it. There will be no repercussions or retaliation for those who come forward and do the right thing."
DOCUMENT: Read full statement from DOC
But the officer said he has been sworn at by a superior in front of inmates and that some top officers are too close to female staff. He said wardens are regularly having sex with female officers.
The officer said the Secretary at the Department of Corrections is well-intentioned, but he faces a big job.