The St. Petersburg Times has announced that the Florida legislature violated the law when it allowed the state’s 29 prisons and prison camps to be privatized.
As first reported by Reentry Central on July 25, 2011, a move to halt the privatization of the Florida prison system was brought by the Police Benevolent Society, which represents the state’s correctional officers. The union insisted that Florida Legislators violated state law when they passed the bill to privatize without initiating a business- case study. Under Florida state law, a "business case" is required if an agency attempts to outsource more than $10 million dollars.
A follow-up article posted by Reentry Central on August 18, 2011 reported that instead of saving money by turning over the prison system to private contractors, Florida taxpayers would be faced with $25 million in payouts to 4,000 correctional officers.
The state is weighing options as to whether or not to appeal the decision made by Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford.
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