Florida’s Juvenile Justice System Faces Lawsuit for Placing Children in Solitary Confinement

The Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida Legal Services, and Florida Justice filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice for the improper treatment of children within their facility, the Miami Herald reports.

Details About the Lawsuit Against Florida’s Juvenile Justice System

According to the lawsuit, officials at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice have been placing children in isolation rooms for minor acts such as horseplay and peeling wall paint.

Children placed in isolation are allowed to leave only to shower. Sometimes, children had to resort to banging on the doors or smearing feces on the walls to get the guards’ attention.

Solitary Confinement Increases Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Children are especially vulnerable to the drastic effects of solitary confinement, including a higher risk of suicidal behavior and mental health problems, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs are three juveniles in North Florida who each have records of mental illness or disabilities. One boy who was placed in solitary multiple times attempted to choke himself on one occasion using his pants. An officer removed the pants from around his neck and spoke to the boy, but the boy proceeded to choke himself again when the officer left.

Other cases involved a pregnant 16-year-old who was placed into solitary and a 13-year-old with a mood disorder who was kept in solitary after another child punched her in the face.

According to data from the DJJ cited in the lawsuit, the department placed 4,310 children in isolation 11,738 times over the course of about a year.

Criminal Justice Committee Calls for Change

Vice chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee Sen. Jeff Brandes said he is fully against placing children in solitary confinement for long periods of time. However, he believes separation is necessary when someone is acting violently.

He said the committee plans to address solitary confinement during this legislative session and to find statutory fixes.

Has Your Child Suffered a Serious Injury Due to an Accident?

If your child suffers an injury in an accident, contact Thomas J. Henry. Children are vulnerable to injury, especially when negligent individuals and property owners put their safety in jeopardy. Automobile accidents, unsafe premises, medical malpractice, and defective toys can all cause severe harm to our children

When your child suffers from a severe injury, you need a law firm with experienced injury attorneys and the legal resources to win your case. Thomas J. Henry has experience representing clients from across the nation in various types of accidents and obtaining record-breaking, real results.

Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide.

Contact Us for a Free Case Review
Contact Form

Loading...
Do you really want to end conversation?
chat-icon Live chat
avatar Waiting