Florida DOC Planning State-Wide Reform To Improve Care Of Mentally Ill Inmates

On August 20, 2014, Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Mike Crews announced system-wide reforms to improve how the department handles inmates with mental illness. The announcement came after news outlets publicly reported on incidents of abuse and discrimination against offenders with mental illness at the Dade Correctional Institution (Dade CI). Secretary Crews said the incidents indicated failures of facility leadership, safety, security, training, and services.

Despite the DOC’s planned reforms, on September 9, 2014, advocacy group Disability Rights Florida filed a civil federal lawsuit against DOC and the Dade CI correctional health care contractor Wexford Health Sources . . .