TAMPA - The attorney for a woman who claims her arm was broken while in Orient Road Jail last year has provided The Tampa Tribune the notice of intent to sue sent to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. ...more

February 21, 2008

SEBRING — As a former officer at the Avon Park Correctional Institution, Hector Velazquez Jr. dealt with violent, drug-addicted inmates on a daily basis. Now, because of an alleged eight-day cocaine fueled crime spree in 2005, Velazquez, of Sebring, will be behind bars. ...more

February 19, 2008

Look Into Jail Policies Regarding "Toss From Wheelchair Brings Jail Suspensions" (front page, Feb. 13): ...more

February 15, 2008

An apology from Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee came Wednesday with a promise to investigate a jail deputy who dumped a disabled man out of a wheelchair and the supervisors who did nothing to intervene. ...more

February 14, 2008

There is no excuse for the behavior captured on video at the Orient Road Jail: A deputy dumping a man out of his wheelchair as supervisors watch indifferently. ...more

February 14, 2008

As Sheriff of Hillsborough County, I want to assure Mr. Brian Sterner, as well as the citizens of Hillsborough County, that this incident will be investigated to the fullest. ...more

February 13, 2008

Landscaping costs in the three Highlands County incorporated areas: (budgeted costs vary wildly, and shouldn't be directly compared, since most employees perform several tasks not connected with landscaping, while grant funding varies and pays for many improvements.) • Highlands County-$2.5 million yearly budget for landscaping of 40 county owned properties which includes the cost of a four-person, full-time department. • Avon Park-$52,000 of Avon Park city funding goes to contractor Cutting Edge, which maintains the U.S. 27 corridor, the Main Street mall and other city properties. Inmates perform much of the landscaping at no cost to the city, as is the custom in many areas of the county. Five recreation department employees oversee upkeep of the city ball fields with a $16,000 yearly budget. ...more

February 10, 2008

Ken Pruitt, the leader of the Florida Senate, says compensation for the wrongfully convicted is one of his top priorities this year. ...more

February 2, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Even a tornado can't keep a good jail down. Just 45 days after an EF-1 tornado tore through the central jail complex off Land O' Lakes Boulevard, the final touches were being made Thursday on the newly erected structure, replacing the one destroyed in the early morning hours of Dec. 16. ...more

February 2, 2008

With nearly 280 inmates sleeping in temporary bedding at Pasco jails, Sheriff Bob White was perturbed today by the latest delay in building a permanent jail addition. ...more

February 1, 2008