tenced alargenumberof convictedfelonstostateprisonIencountered where Ipresideasajudge experiencesaveryhighcrimerate. largest numberofprisoners tostateprison.Needlesssaytheregion States andthejudicialcircuitwhereIpresideannually sendsthesecond largest prisonpopulation(approximately100,000 inmates)intheUnited States thatpermitsimpositionofthedeathpenalty. Floridahasthethird of eitherlifeinprisonordeath.Floridaisone 35statesintheUnited dant isconvictedofcapital a terminexcessofoneyearuptolife.Incertain instances,ifthedefen- trol (housearrest),oralternativelysentencethe defendanttoprisonfor empowered toeitherplacethedefendantonprobation, communitycon- cases meaningthatiftheaccusedisconvictedfollowing ajurytrial,Iam have beenassignedtotheCriminalFelonyDivisionpresidingoverfelony ple andisknownasthe17thJudicialCircuit.ForanumberofyearsI largest residentialareainthestatewithapopulationof1.6millionpeo- Broward County, Floridaforthepast36years. This regionisthesecond KEY WORDS:Court,Population,Penalty Federal JudgeofFloridaState (USA) Mark Speiser #9, www.lawandworld.ge VIS IN THE COUNTRY OF GEORGIA POSTUREPRISONS OF MEASURING UP THE CURRENT OF FLORIDA PARTICULARLY IN THE STATE UNITED STATES MOREAND After servingasacriminal judgeforseveralyearsandhavingsen- I haveservedasanelectedCircuitCourtJudgeinFortLauderdale, May, ‐

AVIS PRISONS IN THE 2018 fi rst degreemurderIcanimposeasentence LLAW A W

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grading culturethatde movement entailsand the depressingandde- fi “blind sentencing”byjudges.Inessenceseeing what manycivilrightsactivistscharacterizeas ing inapenalinstitutionmayservetotemper can experiencetheclimateandconditionsexist- quired tobeimposed.Prisontourswherejudges when mandatoryminimumsentencesarenotre- discretion orleewayintheirsentencingdecisions ever inthemajorityofcriminalcasesjudgeshave offenders lackinganyhopeforsalvation.How- solutely necessaryforhabitual,violent,recidivist lengthy sentencesareclearlymandatedandab- “seeing isbelieving”!Inmanyinstancestough, the brinkofcriminality. pression uponanyjuvenileoradultteeteringon ly leaveanoverwhelmingandinvaluableim- value thesevisitscanprovidewouldundoubted- and shouldbeavoidedatallcost. The deterrent ees. PrisonlifeinFloridaisnoeasychallenge and administrativestaff thatoverseethedetain- well asinteractingwiththecorrectionof halls andworkingfactorieswithintheprisonsas talking totheinmates,viewingtheircells,dining eye-opening experience,walkingamongand the executionchamber. two prisonsthathousedeathrowinmatesand imum, mediumandmaximumprisons,the prisoner workcamps,releasecenters,min- inmates sentencedtoprisonmustmatriculate, intake andreceptioncentersthroughwhichall ment ofCorrectionsrangingfromclassi facilities underthecontrolofFloridaDepart- visit andobserveawidespectrumofdetention ranged fortoursmyselfandotherjudgesto future hopeforsalvationorrehabilitation.Iar- encountered andwhetherprisonlifeoffered any really entailed,whatrisksandperilsinmates ing anypersonalinsightastowhatimprisonment been deprivingpeopleoftheirlibertywithouthav- ization) thatforasigni a personalepiphany(asuddenandstrikingreal- matter whatcountryorjurisdiction theyserve. erate moreenlightened sentencing byjudgesno rsthand whatthe lossoflibertyandfreedom ssamarTali a There issubstantialtruthtothemaximthat This undertakingwasunquestionablyan m a r T a l i

dda a msoflio m s o f l fi fi cant periodoftimeIhave nes prisonlifemightgen- i o fi cation, fi cers on staff ical mistreatmentandabuseofinmatesbypris- been targetedbyhumanrightsgroupsarephys- noteworthy systematicprisonconcernsthathave try intheworldoneisincarcerated.InGeorgia what stateintheUnitedStatesorcoun- daunting andharrowingexperiencenomatter 3 2 1 ics. Hispanic andunder1%wereothernon-Hispan- female inmateswerewhite,30%black,5% under 1%wereothernon-Hispanics.64%ofthe were black,38%white,13%Hispanicand and 7%werefemale.49%ofthemaleinmates tional facilities.93%oftheinmatesweremale proximately 100,000inmatesinits148correc- By comparisontheStateofFloridaalonehasap- inmates. 97.1%aremaleand2.9%female. current inmatepopulationofapproximately9,451 currently 15penalinstitutionsinGeorgiawitha convicted andaccuseddefendants. Tbilisi thatalsohadamedicalfacilitytotreatboth Rustavi region,andanotherinstitutionformenin a mediumcustodymaledetentionfacilityinthe prisons, oneforfemaleinmatesandtheother Probation arrangedformetovisittwoseparate Law, theGeorgiaMinistryofCorrectionsand behest oftheEuropeanUniversitySchool ons inGeorgiaandtheStateofFlorida. At the upon similaritiesanddifferences betweenpris- Georgia. The balanceofthisarticlewillfocus prisons inRussia,Ukraine,Lithuania,Israeland conditions inforeignenvironments.Ihaveseen out opportunitiestovisitandexperienceprison former Sovietblockcountries,Ihavesought and lecturingtolawyersoverseas,primarilyin 2 Unquestionably, servingprison timeisavery According toarecentpublication,thereare In mymanyyearsofteachingatlawschools

DESPITE PRISONREFORMS, ABUSES STILL and-ethnic-disparity-in-state-prisons/ ingproject.org/publications/color-of-jusitice-racial- 2016, ASHLEY NELLIS,Ph.D. http://www.sentenc- NIC DISPARITY INSTATE PRISONS,JUNE12, html THE COLORJUSTICE:RACIAL AND ETH- BER, 2017,http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/quickfacts. MENT OFCORRECTIONS,REVISEDDECEM- QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE FLORIDA DEPART- FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, prisonstudies.org/country/georgia GEORGIA/WORLD PRISONBRIEF, http://www. 3 . Poorinmatehealthcareforprisoners #9, www.lawandworld.ge

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endure. ery andthedeplorableconditionstheyhaveto oftentimes goneonstriketoprotestprisonslav- appropriate healthcare.Floridaprisonershave lence, excessiveuseofforcebystaff andlackof suspicious deathssuchasinmate-on-inmatevio- died inFloridaprisons. At least145werefrom penal institutionsaswell.In2017,428prisoners that signi iting andoversightboardsoftentimeshighlight reformists andnationalstateprisonaccred- lodged againstFloridaprisonsaswell.Prison the Georgiaprisonsystemarealsofrequently with theEuropeanUnion. dress beforeGeorgiacanbecomemorealigned the EuropeanUniondeemsnecessarytoad- an advisortoGeorgiaonthesetwoissuesthat European CommissionerForHumanRightsas reforms aswelltheappointmentofformer several of theEuropeanUnionprovidingGeorgiawith infrastructure. Inlargemeasurethisisaproduct the sphereofjudicialindependenceandprison gered signi to gainaccesstheEuropeanUnionhastrig- 5 4 ing theGeorgiaandFloridaprisonsthatmerit exist concerningtheinmatepopulationcompris- gerous breedinggroundfortuberculosis”. characterized theCountry’s prisonsas“adan- itative reached suchanalarminglevelthatauthor- #9, www.lawandworld.ge 6 However similarandadditionalcriticismsof Georgia’s determinedandpraiseworthyeffort Several immediatelynoticeabledifferences May, com/us-inmates-strike-against-prison EDITION, CHANTAL DA SILVA. www.newsweek. MARTIN LUTHERKINGDAY, NEWSWEEK,U.S. ON SLAVERY AND INHUMANE CONDITIONSON FLORIDA INMATES TO STRIKE AGAINST PRIS- THE MIAMIHERALD,JANUARY 28,2018 FLORIDA LAST YEAR, SARAH BLASKY, RECORD NUMBEROFINMATES DIEDIN gias-crammed-prisons PURIA, http://www.iwpr.net/global-voices/geor- GEORGIA’S CRAMMEDPRISONS, TEA TO- http://www.refworld.org/docid/5448fbc54.html COMMON INGEORGIA,OCTOBER 20,2014, (ecfr.eu). ROPEAN COUNCIL ONFOREIGN RELATIONS CAN HELP, JANA KOBZOUA, APRIL, 2013.EU- GEORGIA’SEU HOW THE BUMPY TRANSITION: fi gure intheGeorgianOrthodoxChurch 5 fi

nancing agreementstosupportthese

fi 2018 cant reformsareessentialinFlorida fi cant reformsandimprovementsin 6

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ish, Creole,Portuguese,French, Arabic, He- of languagesarespokensuchasEnglish,Span- ligious (atheist,agnostic)minorities. A multitude Buddhist, Jewishandotherreligiousnon-re- ent intheformofCatholic,Protestant,Muslim, Asian races.Religiousdiversityisequallypres- order, bymembersoftheWhite,Hispanic and jority ofinmatesareblackfollowedindescending ences existonalargescale.InFlorida,thema- prisons racial,ethnic,religiousandculturaldiffer- prison systemintheUnitedStates.InFlorida marked contrast.Floridaisthethirdlargeststate tranquility isapparent,Floridaprisonsarea commentary. Signi 7 ons undoubtedlyreducespotentialstrife,con sition oftheprisonpopulationinGeorgiapris- guarded. This absenceofdiversityinthecompo- ethnicity, cultureandreligionastheinmatesthey staff werealmostexclusivelyofthesamerace, Equally relevantisthattheprisonof ality, religiouslyOrthodoxandculturallySoviet. of inmateswereraciallywhite,Georgiannation- ons Ivisited. The overwhelminglyvastmajority versity amongtheprisonersinGeorgiapris- sence ofracial,ethnic,culturalandreligiousdi- and con successful societies,inthecontextofaclosed diversi cy. Withthisbackdrop,itisclear thatalthough dom, overcrowdingandanintenselackofpriva- tion, physicalandemotionaldeprivation,bore- physical andverbalvictimizationintimida- are imbuedwithfear, mistrust,highlevelsof very muchlikesocietyitself.InFlorida,prisons its ownculturalmores,normsandexpectations sonnel responsibleforguardingthem. as welltheprisonersandcorrectionsper- and aggressionbetweentheinmatesthemselves ly conditionsofcon population andcorrectionsof differences anddiversi Unlike theGeorgiaprisonswhererelative A prisoninandofitselfisasocialsystemwith SCIENCE http://eprints.lse.ac.uk DON SCHOOL OFECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SION INPRISON,CORETTA PHILLIPS,LON- ETHNICITY, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY COHE- fi cation isapositivetraitandcharacterof fi ned prisonenvironment, thegreater fi fl cantly, thereisade ict anddisorder will prevail. fi cation ofboththeinmate LLAW A fi W cers themorelike-

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her staff ofcorrection interaction thatexistedbetweenthewardenand diately impressedbythepositiveandrespectful more particularthewoman’s facility, Iwasimme- receive. their workplaceandtheinadequatetrainingthey they arepaid,theviolenceproneenvironmentof large measureaproductofthemeagersalaries ate safe,secureandstablepenalinstitutionsisin individuals hiredbytheStateofFloridatooper- 9 8 crime existinFloridaprisons. for theirparticipationinviolenceandorganized with theirownuniqueculturesandnationalities. to inmatescomingfromover30countrieseach United StatesthroughFloridahascontributed wave oflegalandillegalimmigrantsenteringthe to CentralandSouth America coupledwiththe brew andotherEuropeandialects.Itsproximity cilitate illegalpro on environment. miserably inmaintainingasafeandstablepris- arrest ordismissalofprisonpersonnelwhofail system. Newspapersfrequentlydocumentthe correction of corruption byadministrativepersonnelandthe prisons istherecurringoccurrenceofabuseand tor tothestrifeandmorbidconditionsinFlorida scale presenceofgangs,athirdcontributingfac- it breedsamonginmates,aswellthelarge mates andthelackofcommunitycohesion rity andprotection. gangs. Inmatesformgangsforasenseofsecu- beatings, newprisoners’ areforcedtojointhese By verbalthreatsandphysicalintimidation in andoutsidetheprisonswheretheyoperate. ssamarTali a While visitingthetwoprisonsinRustaviand Six majorprisongangsnationallyknown In additiontotheenormousdiversityofin- m a r tion-abuse-and-deaths floridias-department-corrections-culture-corrup- www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/feb/2/ DEATHS, CHRISTOPHER ZOUKIS.http:// A CULTURE OFCORRUPTION, ABUSE AND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OFCORRECTIONS: http://prisonwriters.com/prison-gangs-in-florida/ ALL, CHARLESNORMAN,PRISONWRITERS, IN FLORIDA FROM A “LIFER” WHO’SSEENIT html TERRIFYING REPORT ONPRISON GANGS CORRECTIONS. http://state.fl.us/pub/gangs/prison. PRISON GANGS,FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF T a l i fi

cers staff employedbytheprison dda a msoflio m 9 This lackofprofessionalism by s fi o t makingactivitiesbothwith- f l i o fi cers, andtheinmates 8 These gangsfa-

ating nurseriesintheirfemaleprisons. states intheUnitedStatescurrentlyhaveoper- My researchindicatesthatonlynineofthe allow suchanarrangementinitsstateprisons. assigned tothisuniquefacility. Floridadoesnot as thecontingentofnursesandcorrectionalstaff vice uptotenmothersandtheirbabiesaswell the separatestructurecreatedtohouseandser- tence. Admittedly, Iwasquiteimpressedwith nursery, nordidIknowtheywere everinexis- ously identi both inFloridaandtheforeigncountriesIprevi- merit discussion.Inmyyearsofvisitingprisons during mytouroftheRustaviwoman’s prisonthat ronment thatprevailedinthisinstitution. contributed toahealthy, safeand positiveenvi- identical, andsimilar. These factorsundoubtedly peared toberacially, ethnicallyandculturally corrections of and otherprogramswereveryimpressive. The favorably, andtheprisonlibrary, artsandcrafts, tained, theprisonstaff andinmatesinteracted grounds oftheprisonwerecleanandwellmain- place tobesituated. The exteriorandinterior facility wasrelativelytolerableandnotahorrible nately youhadtobeincarcerated,thisparticular pression wasquitefavorable.Infact,ifunfortu- must beexhibitedbytheinmates,myoverallim- from theobligatoryobedienceandrespectthat parently anevolvingtrendintheUnitedStates. tinguishes theauthorityofcorrection all prisonsaninvisiblelineofdemarcationdis- staff werecongenialandwarm. Although asin they wereoverseeing. At thefemaleprison 11 11 10 Two signi The conceptof“babiesbehindbars”isap- SENTENCES, DARRENBOYLE, MAY 25,2016, ON MOTHERSWHILE THEY SERVE THEIR JAIL WHERE BABIESGET TO STAY WITH THEIR FEL- AMERICA’S MAXIMUMSECURITY PRISONS en-s-prisons RAISEDBEHIND BARS:INSIDE prison-nursery-programs-a-growing-trend-in-wom- 2009. http://www.corrections.com/articles/21644- TREND INWOMEN’SPRISONS,JULY 13, PRISON NURSERY PROGRAMS A GROWING ONS LOCATED INFIVESTATES. MOTHERS WITHINFANTS INFEDERAL PRIS- DENTIAL PARENTING PROGRAMSEXIST FOR INGTON, WEST VIRGINIA.IN ADDITION, RESI- NEBRASKA, OHIO,SOUTHDAKOTA, WASH- CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS,INDIANA,NEW YORK, fi ed, Ihadneverobservedaprison fi cant observations impressedme fi cers andprisonpopulationap- #9, www.lawandworld.ge

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fi , cers 2018 fi fty 11

vvital trainingforherreturntowork. eexperience orpreventthemotherfromreceiving eexpose thechildtoill-effects oftheprison mmate mothersandanewborninfantshouldnot doubters. The 10 taking unfortunatelyisnotwithoutitscriticsand creating thisprisonnursery, this acclaimedunder- effort oftheGeorgiaMinistryCorrectionsin ed totheprisonnursery. infant, assumingbotharehealthy, aretransport- child inanormalhospitalsettingthemotherand igible pregnantfemaleinmategivesbirthtoher stance, includingtheRustaviprison,onceel- not beacandidateforthisprogram.Ineachin- in excessofthistime-framegenerallywould pregnant motherenteringprisonwithasentence period rangingfrom18months–36months. A eries, themaximumstayforbabiesisa tries, includingGeorgia,thatallowprisonnurs- the UnitedStatesaswellthoseothercoun- llong astheyfeellovedandsupported. oor aprison,theydon’tknowandcareas Hills CorrectionalFacilityobserved: at New York State’s maximumsecurityBedford it organizationthatoperatestheprisonnursery a RomanCatholicNunwhorunsthenon-prof- a full-timenurturingmother-childcontinuum. As a positivementalhealthoptitudethatevolvefrom proved cognitiveskills,schoolpreparednessand tionship withtheirmotherfrombirthfostersim- the opportunitytohaveastrongbondingrela- mothers. Furthermore,providingbabieswith duces therateofrecidivismamongparticipating studies demonstratingthatsuchaprogramre- The supportbehindthisimpetusisgroundedon #9, www.lawandworld.ge countries in Europe including Georgia noted: countries inEuropeincludingGeorgianoted: dren baseduponatreatysubscribedtobyforty United NationsConventionontheRightsofChil- mittee forthePreventionof Torture issuedbythe o i x x r t n a

a p p a g t TThe needtomaintaincontactsbetweenin- BBabies belongwiththeirmothers.Inapalace Despite the praiseworthy and commendable Despite thepraiseworthyandcommendable In theninestatesandfederalprisonsin l e o e

t r s h May, a a

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a laborer. movement andpossiblysecureapayingjobas the baby’s motherlimitedoutsidecommunity with theaideofanklemonitors(i.e.housearrest) ment, yetallowthroughcorrectionalsupervision infants totheprisonatmosphereandenviron- born children. This proposalwouldnotexpose house eligibleconvictedmothersandtheirnew- special livingunitsoutsidetheprisongroundsto bies inprisonnurserieswouldbetoconstruct port’s author, abetterapproachtohousingba- an altruisticundertakingintheopinionofre- though aprisonnurseryisrighteousstepand OONE-SIDED. OOF IMPRISONEDMOTHERSCANNOT BE 14 13 12 cut, New York andWashington. the followingfourstates:California,Connecti- Conjugal visitationsarecurrentlyallowedonlyin tended familyvisitsinanyofitsstateprisons. overnight visits. legal spouseand/orchildrenstaywiththemfor ment unitsallowsselectedinmatestohavetheir free standingstructurewitheightsmallapart- ly designatedfacilityontheprisongrounds. This overnight/weekend conjugalvisitsinaseparate- affording itsinmatestheopportunitytohave after mytouroftheRustaviwoman’s prisonwas side world,andhighercostsoffoodnutrition. more personneltomonitorthemotherinout- of adedicatedlivingfacility, the highercostsof an endeavorincludingtheconstruction/purchase posal wouldbethecostfactoroffundingsuch N F

E RRESPONSIBILITY TOWARDSCHILDREN This reportstronglysuggests/impliesthatal- Florida, doesnotallowanyconjugalorex- An equallyeye-openingideathatIleftwith I - E M S com ORAH ENGLAND,www.criminaldefenselawyers. STATES THAT ALLOW CONJUGAL VISITS,DEB- CONCLUSION. STATES DISTRICT COURT REACHED THE SAME SUPP. 617(N.D.CALIF. 1992) ANOTHER UNITED SENTENCE IN ANDERSON V. VAZQUEZ, 827F. THEIR SPOUSESWHILESERVING A PRISON TUTIONAL RIGHT TO CONJUGAL VISITS WITH HELD THAT PRISONERSHAVE NOCONSTI- (N.D. OHIO1974), THE UNITEDDISTRICT COURT IN FACT, INLYONS V. GILLIGAN,382F. SUPP.198 tent/uploads/2013/12/wolleswinkelfulltext.pdf pp.191-207, http://childrenofprisoners.eu/wp-con- CHILDREN INSIDEPRISON,JANC.M.WILLIAMS, S P I D P R E 12 O I S The primaryshortcomingofthispro- D N O . S

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sex andtheirstrongeremphasisonmaintaining is attributabletotheirlessrigidattitudetowards low well-behavedinmatestohaveintimatevisits permissive attitudeofEuropeancountriesthatal- eligible prisoninmatesthisprivilege. The more tries havejoinedGeorgiainextendingtotheir more prevalentandacceptable.Nearly20coun- be partofthedeal!! a debttosocietyandconjugalvisitsshouldnot United Statesisthatinmatesareinprisontopay jugal visits. The currentprevailingattitudeinthe been persuadedtosupportandimplementcon- of prisoneradministratorsin American havenot good behavior. Unfortunatelythevastmajority reduce recidivism,andprovideanincentivefor nection betweentheprisonerandtheirfamily, States arguethattheyhelptomaintainacon- states wheretheyareallowedintheUnited gal visitsinanyofitsprisons. eral BureauofPrisonsdoesnotallowanyconju- one ofthepartnerswasincarcerated. The Fed- domestic partnershipmusthaveexistedbefore heterosexual couplesreceive. The registered ners whoarenotthemselvesincarceratedthat give thesamerightstoregistereddomesticpart- or enactedstatelawobligatingagenciesto same sexcouplesinordertocomplywithapri- California legislatureextendedconjugalvisitsto ssamarTali a Outside theUnitedStatesconjugalvisitsare Advocates forconjugalvisitsinthefour m a r T a l i

dda a msoflio m s o f l i o for itsinmatepopulation. thinking, innovativeprogramsandopportunities right directionbyimplementingpositiveforward istry ofCorrectionsappearstobeheadedinthe when theyenteredincarceration.Georgia’s Min- mates toleavecon our societyareessentialifwetoexpectin- provide inspirationandhopetotheprisonersof survival, minimizerisksofharmanddanger that shouldnotbetaken.Newideasimprove mands isawalkthatshouldbeavoidedandpath feiture ofrightsanddignitythatincarcerationde- freedom, restrictionofmovement,andtotalfor- rience withmorerisksthanbene to theconjugalunit. for goodbehaviorwastoearnanovernightvisit visit facilityandexplaintomethattheincentive haved. Hisresponsewastopointtheconjugal inmates seemedcalm,mellowandsowellbe- a prisonguardthroughtranslatorwhyallthe may neverthelessbeincarcerated. family valueseventhoughonepartner 15 Prison lifeisadreadfulexistenceandexpe- As IwasleavingtheRustaviprison,asked org/.../02/11/conjugal-visits DANIA GOLDSTEINwww.themarshallproject. CONJUGAL VISITS/THEMARSHALL PROJECT, fi nement noworseoff than #9, fi www.lawandworld.ge ts. The lossof 15

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