Florida

For Media Inquiries:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org

FAMM issues statement following death of a state prisoner at Lake Correctional Institution

ORLANDO – FAMM Director of Florida Policy Greg Newburn issued the following statement following the death of a state prisoner at Lake Correctional Institution (CI):

“We are deeply disturbed by the news of another death of a state prisoner after what FDC describes as a “use of force incident” by a corrections officer at Lake CI,” Newburn said. “We appreciate that FDC appears to be taking this seriously, and that FDLE is already investigating the incident. We hope the investigation is swift, thorough and transparent. Any evidence of wrongdoing should be made available to the public, and if the facts justify criminal charges we encourage the state to pursue them vigorously. We believe this tragedy – and others like it at Lake CI and other prison facilities – once again underscores the urgent need for independent oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of the state corrections system.”

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies at the state and federal level and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.