Date: 7/21/2019 7:24:26 AM

"OVER USE OF DISCIPLINARY CONFINEMENT"
By Ronald W. Clark Jr.

Chapter 33 - Florida Administrative Codes (FAC) was designed and structured by individuals who understood that solitary confinement was psychologically harmful to the prisoner's who were to endure it. Thus it was implemented for minimal use.

See 33-601...301 Inmate Discipline - Genereal Policy. Section (2) "Informal disciplinary intervention consist of group and individual counseling in lieu of formal disciplinary action. These corrective techniques are employed when deviations from the rules occur due to lack of understanding or as a result of carelessness or faulty habits, and are designed to eliminate future disciplinary violations and to develop acceptable standards of behavior."

In quote.

Now if you view 33-601.303 Reporting Disciplinary Infractions. Section (1) Clearly gives staff several other options, other than writing a formal disciplinary report. And if you investigate you'll see that the inmates behing placed on disciplinary confinement, have never been given the written reprimand through the use of Form DC80117, Corrective Consultation of Inmate. So their not following their own rules and using the above for mentioned form. Before taking disciplinary action.

But let's go even further, 33-601.308 section (4), (L) last line states "Disciplinary confinement shall be utilized only as a last resort."

It doesn't get much clearer than that. But if you need more evidence, the let's go to 33-602.222 Disciplinary Confinement. Section (8) Review and Release From Disciplinary Confinement. (a)" A member of the ICT shall review the cases of inmates in disciplinary confinement every week. The goal shall be toward returning an inmate to the open population as soon as the facts of the case indicate that this can be done safely." In quote. Which is further evidenced that these psychologically damaging isolation cells, are to be used, only in extreme cases, where the inmate must be removed for safety. These psychological torture chambers, and Icall it like it is, were not designed and structured by the rule making authority to inflict punishment on inmates. For they clearly have recognized the long term psychological torture chambers, and Icall it like it is, were not designed and structured by the rule making authority to inflict punishment on inmates. For they clearly have recognized the long term psychological damage that disciplinary confinement/isolation cells have on the human mind. If you look at 33-601.308 section (4), you'll see a list of punishments that the disciplinary team has at their disposal. And let me reiterate "Disciplinary Confinement shall only be utilized as a last resort." Yet if you go into the dept records, especially here in P-dorm, you'll see an over use of the disciplinary confinement cells. And not only that, but you'll witness that the FDOC uses urinalysis test, I don't know how much muney is wasted on this test. And I say wasted because once an inmate has been found with a positive test. And I say wasted because once an inmate has been found with a positive test, the Administration is not allowing inmates here in p-dorm to participate in substances abuse treatment progreams, see 33-501.001,002, 201 and 202. None of which is given to the inmates back here. No they just throw the inmate in isolation for 60 days, where their denied any time of recreation for the first 30 days, which is a violation of 33-601.830 section (7) (j) Suspend all visits for a year. So these men, who can't deal with reality without some type of dependent, are not only tortured in these disciplinary confinement cells, their not offered substance abuse counseling and treatment. No! What there given is more mental abuse by the overuse of solitary confinement. Actions speak louder than hollow words. And 33 - Florida Administrative Codes is little more than flowery words, supported by torturous actions. What we need, is legislation just like New Jersy just in acted, to ban isolation cells to where they are only used in the most rare occasions, for an inmate who needs protection, or one who is out of control. Which I believe was already the intension of the rule making authority. But the FDOC record will uneuivocally reflect an abuse of inmates, who are being mentally messed up in solitary confinement.

Please contact the following individuals and request an investigation into the over use of disciplinary confinement, and a call for new legislation. Thank you for your time and help. God bless you.

Respectfully Submitted Ronald W. Clark Jr.
Written July 20, 2019
Call and email Senator Jeff Brandes, SEnator Randolph Bracy, Senator Keith Perry, Senator Anitere Flores, Senator Jason WB Pizzo. Who are members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, And House Representative Anna V. Eskamani, who said she wants to hear of any type of prisoner abuse.