An inmate abuse protest that started off at the Capitol Monday and ended at the Florida Department of Corrections left both sides parting ways amicably.
Ada Campos’ son, Justin, was serving a life sentence for killing two gang members. He claimed self-defense, but a judge didn’t agree. While housed in Jackson Correctional Institution, Campos says Justin got repeated calls and visits from his family.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” said Ada Campos. “I would have never known because my son was at Jackson CI, and he didn’t tell me until after he moved. He told me, you know, Mom, that was one of the toughest prisons, but the guards were taking really good care of him in that particular situation. The captain let me talk to him on the weekend. The guards would give him mail on the weekend. I mean he was like really blessed, he was well-respected.”
But, his mother says all that changed one day after he was attacked, leaving a gash on his face. For his safety, Justin Campos was later moved to Madison Correctional Institution. Weeks later, he died and Ada Campos says about a year later, she’s still waiting for answers. She recalled what happened when she spoke to the warden.
“I saw his assault,” she added. “The cut wasn’t like a one-inch. The cut was from his ear all the way down to his mouth. And, you know what retired officials have told me? That that’s either a mark for a snitch or you’re marked to die. And, I said ‘you’re guards didn’t know that at Jackson? I said you’re not going to tell me your guards don’t know that. If the inmates know it, how can the guards not know it?”
Campos was part of a group of families Monday who traveled to the state Capitol, hoping to speak to the Governor or a member of his staff about inmate abuse. But, after failing to get an audience, the group moved to the Florida Department of Corrections.
A spokeswoman for the protestors called it a "good meeting." And, DOC Secretary Michael Crews agreed.
“They were very respectful, very professional,” Crews said. “A lot of the things they were conveying to us…I won’t say it was anything new based on some of the things we’ve been hearing and dealing with for the past several months. However, they were very much at the forefront at their thoughts because now, you’re talking about one of their loved ones. And, what I promised them is we were going to treat their loved ones just like we were going to treat every other inmate and we’re going to treat them respectfully.”
Crews, who spoke with the group for more than hour, also confirmed a grand jury just indicted those involved in Campos’ death.
“Ms. Campos, she actually spoke to her frustration with being able to get access to information and even, she said the Medical Examiners’ report,” he added “And, what we told her that a grand jury had been convened in that particular case, which now both of the inmates who were charged in the death of her son had been indicted. But, all that information is protected during the Grand Jury process. Now, that that grand jury has run its course, I don’t know why that information would not be able to come available to her.”
He also directed the group speak to him directly, if they weren’t satisfied after contacting the department’s Inspector General. In addition, Crews renewed his promise to ensure those responsible for harming inmates under his watch are punished.
After Crews’ recent tour of the state’s correctional facilities, he’s fired a number of prison guards. And, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating more than 100 suspicious inmate deaths.
For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.
