A QUESTION OF ETHICS

SECTION 8.  Ethics in government.--A public office is a public trust. The people shall have the right to secure and sustain that trust against abuse. To assure this right:

(f) There shall be an independent commission to conduct investigations and make public reports on all complaints concerning breach of public trust by public officers or employees not within the jurisdiction of the judicial qualifications commission.

(3)  The independent commission provided for in subsection (f) shall mean the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 11:00 AM
To: kaylee1@charter.net
Subject: Inmate abuse

I am writing an ethical paper for a college class.     
I am looking for information on inmate abuse in Florida's' Department of Corrections.  Do you have any statistics or documentation by any inspectors or DOC that you could send me?  I would greatly appreciate it.

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I neglected to keep my response to this email, but if my writer will send me a copy, I will be happy to add it. In the meantime, here is my essay on the missing prison ethics. KL

Prison Ethics

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Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 7:01 AM
To: kaylee@idiom.com
Subject: Re: SCHOOL PAPER: Inmate abuse

Thank you for getting back with me.  I am a Correctional Officer for DOC.  I Work at Liberty C.I. our institution is pretty good although we do have a few bad apples.  I have worked for DOC for 7 years and I have not witnessed inmate abuse by an Officer yet, but I have heard of it from other institutions.  Don't get me wrong I DO NOT support inmate abuse but there is two sides to every story, RIGHT?  I have heard a lot of bad stories from other institutions and I just really want to find all the information I can.  I will send you a copy of my paper when I have completed it.  If you see anything interesting about Florida please send it to me.  I also plan to write a paper about professionalism in DOC and the abuse officers have to live with from the other staff.  Please keep my name out of any posting you might make on your wed-site.  People are less likely to talk to you when they know what your writing about.  You know how the whole cover up goes.  Thanks again!!!!

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From: Kay Lee [mailto:kaylee@idiom.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 5:34 PM
Subject: RE: SCHOOL PAPER: Inmate abuse

If you had told me you were a C/O, I'd have given you the same answer.  I hide nothing.  I'm trying my best to differentiate between C/Os and guards.  Guards are ruining the reputation for everyone, good, bad, or otherwise. 

I hope to hear from you again.  I too am looking for the truth and listening to both sides. 

I'm sitting here this minute fighting the urge to vomit because I just received a package of photos of a young man who was said to have committed suicide, but I also am holding a pile of affidavits about torture and murder that made the death a blessing.  The pictures show something terrible was done to him.  My son also died, and as I look at these painful pictures, I thank God he nor I had to face what this mother is looking at. This is the kind of thing that proves things are way out of hand in the Florida system.  You'll hear more about this young man!  Everyone will!

I would like to put your completed paper up.  I would not use your name.