To: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters
End Florida For-Profit Youth Prisons
Dear FDJJ Secretary Walters,
I am writing to ask you and your successor to reconsider your stake in the private prison industry. Private youth prisons are working against the best interest of your department and public safety— disincentivizing youth rehabilitation in the name of corporate profits.
All juvenile residential facilities in the state of Florida are run by private companies. In light of recent information exposing the danger of these prisons in Florida, we urge you to cancel and not renew any contracts with private prison companies, particularly the three contracts valued at almost $120 million that expire at the end of this month. Companies like YSI and G4S are responsible for widespread human rights abuses and deeply unethical business practices. Take a stand for Florida youth by exercising your power to end private private prison contracts.
I am writing to ask you and your successor to reconsider your stake in the private prison industry. Private youth prisons are working against the best interest of your department and public safety— disincentivizing youth rehabilitation in the name of corporate profits.
All juvenile residential facilities in the state of Florida are run by private companies. In light of recent information exposing the danger of these prisons in Florida, we urge you to cancel and not renew any contracts with private prison companies, particularly the three contracts valued at almost $120 million that expire at the end of this month. Companies like YSI and G4S are responsible for widespread human rights abuses and deeply unethical business practices. Take a stand for Florida youth by exercising your power to end private private prison contracts.
Why is this important?
Corrupt private prison companies have taken over Florida's criminal justice system — making millions by unjustly incarcerating Black and Brown youth in dangerous, exploitative, and inhumane conditions. Private prison companies care about one thing; increasing profit, and they lobby hard to secure state contracts that give them license to harm our communities.
Black youth are disproportionately harmed by Florida's private prison racket. Due to continued prejudice in the criminal justice system, Black children are four times more likely than white youth to be committed to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ), and the vast majority for non-violent offenses.
We have a unique opportunity to stop this exploitative system. Several private prison contracts valued at $120 million will expire soon. Outgoing Secretary Wansley Walters has the power to block the renewal of these contracts and begin the deprivatization of the FDJJ before she retires on June 30th. We need widespread public pressure to make sure she does the right thing, and we can't do it without your support.
Black youth are disproportionately harmed by Florida's private prison racket. Due to continued prejudice in the criminal justice system, Black children are four times more likely than white youth to be committed to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ), and the vast majority for non-violent offenses.
We have a unique opportunity to stop this exploitative system. Several private prison contracts valued at $120 million will expire soon. Outgoing Secretary Wansley Walters has the power to block the renewal of these contracts and begin the deprivatization of the FDJJ before she retires on June 30th. We need widespread public pressure to make sure she does the right thing, and we can't do it without your support.