50 signatures reached
To: Ricky Dixon – Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections
Justice for Jose Jaime Tirado III – Stop Retaliatory CM1
Secretary Dixon, we are calling on you to immediately reverse the unlawful Close Management Level 1 placement of Jose Jaime Tirado III (DC# 132634), investigate the retaliatory actions taken against him, and hold those responsible accountable.
On June 7, 2025, DOC accused Jose of assault. The alleged victim told the classification team (ICT) he was not in fear of anyone. That victim and another man were released from confinement — until families began demanding answers. Suddenly, both men were thrown back in confinement, an obvious attempt to justify holding Jose for over two months without due process.
Jose’s CM1 placement was never disclosed to him. The truth only came out after his father called and demanded answers. He still has:
- No disciplinary report
- No written notice of CM status or justification
- No access to rights guaranteed under CM rules
- Multiple public records requests ignored — the only reply violated Florida law
Florida DOC has violated:
- Rule 33-601.800 – Requires timely CM decisions, written notice, and justification.
- Rule 33-601.731 & 33-601.800(7)(b) – Any restriction of communication privileges must be documented and shared with the inmate and family.
- Rule 33-602.221 – CM1 inmates should be single-celled for safety; Jose was housed with another inmate.
- Rule 33-602.205 – Facilities must provide reasonable access to communication/grievance systems; DOC failed when systems were “down.”
- Florida Statute Chapter 119 – Requires timely access to public records; DOC refused.
- Florida Statute § 945.10(1)(d) – Status classifications are not exempt from release to legal family representatives.
- Fourteenth Amendment – Indefinite isolation without timely decision or notice violates due process.
- Eighth Amendment – Prolonged isolation without cause is cruel and unusual punishment.
Jose entered prison at 18 years old. In nearly 15 years, he has worked to better himself, mentor others, and avoid trouble. This CM1 placement is not about safety — it is targeted retaliation for asserting his rights and for his family demanding transparency.
We demand:
- Immediate written notice to Jose of his CM status and the justification for it.
- His release from unlawful CM isolation.
- Full compliance with Florida’s Public Records Act in this case.
- An investigation into the retaliatory re-confinement of witnesses.
- Enforcement of Florida DOC’s own rules and administrative codes.
The public is watching. We will not allow retaliation, cover-ups, and abuse of Close Management to continue unchecked.
Why is this important?
Because no one should be thrown into the most restrictive prison housing in Florida without due process, without cause, and without even being told.
Florida DOC approved Jose Jaime Tirado III (DC# 132634) for Close Management Level 1 — a form of extreme isolation — without notifying him, issuing a disciplinary report, or providing any written justification. The truth only came out when his father demanded answers.
Jose has now been cut off from his family, denied basic rights guaranteed under CM rules, and ignored when his family filed public records requests. This is targeted retaliation for asserting his rights and for his family speaking out — not a legitimate safety measure.
And Jose is one of the lucky ones — he has people who love him enough to fight for him, speak out publicly, and push for answers. Most incarcerated people don’t. For every case we see, there are countless more abuses that go unreported because no one on the outside is watching.
If Florida DOC can get away with violating its own rules, breaking state law, and trampling constitutional protections in Jose’s case, they can and will do it to anyone. We must act now to stop this abuse, free Jose from unlawful isolation, and hold DOC accountable before more lives are damaged by retaliation and cover-ups.