Ronald W. Clark Jr
September 1, 2012

"Public Safety and Institutional Security at Risk"

I've witnessed, on numerous occasions, staff members, bringing in, selling drugs, cellphones, handcuff keys and any type of other contraband that you want to buy, for cash money, or sexual favors.

Last year I had an officer step to my cell front, and tried to hand me a pipe and a lighter, with some type of new designer drug. I immediately thought it was some type of set up. He said, "Go ahead and try it." He was stoned out of his mind. I said, "No thank you." I said, "I haven't been high since August 1996, I gave it up." Which was true. He was telling me this designer drug, which was similar to marijuana, was undetectable with urinalysis test. I later realized it wasn't a set up, when he brought back a bunch of my mail, that staff was stealing, and not letting out of here, and stated, that he would take it out, and mail it.

If this surprises you that staff are working in a maximum security Death Row housing unit while they're stoned, it shouldn't. Oftentimes staff show up drunk, and you can not only smell the booze on them, hear the slurred speech, see the red eyes but they'll even admit to having one too many.

Yes, there's a problem with the drugs contraband and the security of these maximum security prisons. And there's also a solution. And that is, our Florida legislature enacting a law to make personalized audio and video devices, a mandatory part of the correctional officer uniform. These devices would record the officer's daily work routine, which would stop officers and prisoners from being able to run drug enterprises within side these maximum security prisons. It would stop the drugs, cellphones, guns, knives, pornography, and all the other illegal contraband, that staff introduce into these prisons for financial gain. These personalized audio and video devices can be seen on the military and police web sites. Not only would they be a key tool to stopping these illegal acts, but it would give the legislature and others, a real insight into the day to day work environment of these correctional officers, and not this false facade that is put on during tours.

We used to have a prisoner here, he is off the row, got a life sentence, but that guy could talk almost any officer into bringing him in drugs. I don't know how he done it. But he had MP3 players when they weren't allowed. He kept drugs, cellphones and if you wanted anything, that's who we would go to, to get it.

Personalized audio and video devices would stop all of this socializing between officers and prisoners, and therefore stopping these business transactions, of illegal contraband that is smuggled into these maximum security prisons.

This is something the Florida Legislature needs to seriously look into. And I'm hoping you can bring it to their attention. Please feel free to download this document, and send it with a letter to the following two addresses.

Florida Senate
404 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

Florida House of Representatives
402 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

This will protect not only the security of these institutions, but public safety. The technology is here and we need to put it to use. Thank you.

Sincerely, Ronald W. Clark Jr
Sept 1, 2012