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| ACLU sues for access to girls prison records |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/17/2004 |
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The American Civil Liberties Union has sued for access to internal documents belonging to the private contractor operating the Florida's maximum-security prison for girls. The ACLU wants Premier Behavioral Solutions' records to show the problems of privatizing state juvenile correctional facilities, according to the suit filed last Tuesday. In February, a grand jury found that the state Department of Juvenile Justice hadn't done enough to make Premier keep inmates and staff safe at the Florida Institute for Girls. Premier was paid $5 million a year to run the prison, but its contract was canceled, and it turned operations over to a new company, Lighthouse Care Centers. The ACLU wants copies of the documents Premier released to the grand jury, said attorney Frank Kreidler. He's also requesting access to any internal memos company officials sent each other about the investigation and any documents showing the company's efforts to improve conditions at the prison before or after the grand jury investigation. Premier's attorney, Phil Hutchinson, said he hadn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment. The Florida Institute for Girls opened in April 2000 and was praised as an innovative way to treat the state's most troubled and violent female offenders ages 13 to 21. But Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer launched a grand jury investigation in October following reports of inappropriate sexual contact, improper use of physical restraints and excessively long stays in isolation units at the prison. The grand jury found that prison officials didn't systematically cover up abuse, but several staffing problems existed, including a lack of training, massive turnover, persistent shortages and poor morale. |
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