News

Actions

Bid to Keep Florida Prison Inspectors Quiet Sparks Lawsuit

Prison
Posted at 4:45 PM, Feb 11, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-11 11:57:09-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bid to keep prison investigators from revealing what's going on in the state's troubled prison system has sparked a lawsuit.

An attorney representing six employees in the Department of Corrections this week filed a lawsuit challenging a new confidentiality policy ordered by Secretary Julie Jones.

The lawsuit contends investigators could lose their job if they don't agree to follow policy. The lawsuit asks a judge to block the department from going ahead with the change.

Jones says the policy is intended to keep investigators in the inspector general's office from gossiping about cases. Florida's prison system is under fire for suspicious inmate deaths.

She denied that anyone would be fired if they refused to agree to the new policy. But she said the employees would be reassigned to new duties.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.