Murder of Florida Correctional Officer Causes DOC to Reevaluate Labor Program
July 9th, 2008 by flanewsThe Department of Corrections is reevaluating its inmate labor policies after a correctional officer was killed by a prisoner in a work program. Last month correctional officer Donna Fitzgerald was stabbed to death by an inmate at Tomoka Correctional Institute. The inmate was serving two life sentences and working in a program aimed at teaching inmates skills they can use when they leave prison. The inmate made a shank out of a piece of sheet metal and hid in a work closet. When the officer Fitzgerald found the inmate he stabbed her to death. Executive Director of the Florida Police Benevolence Association Dave Murrell said inmates serving life sentences shouldn�t be allowed to enroll in labor programs.
�It makes no sense to put a violent person serving a life sentence in a position like that, especially dealing with heavy metals that they could make weapons. Apparently he did that and killed Officer Fitzgerald,� said Murrell. �The whole policy needs to be changed. Lifers don�t need to be involved in that program.�
The Department of Corrections and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating Fitzgerald�s death.
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