The Dade Correctional Institution (Dade CI or DCI) is a prison in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, near Florida City. This facility houses adult males and minimum, medium, and close security levels. It was established in September 1996 and is part of the Florida Department of Corrections. It is situated right next to the Homestead Correctional Institution, which houses female inmates.Press, Eyal. "Madness." The New Yorker. May 2, 2016. Retrieved on June 22, 2016.
History The prison was opened in 1976 as a minimum security facility. Originally designed for 528 inmates, it cost US$8.8 million () to construct.
Controversies In 2005, three prisoners escaped for an hour and a half but were captured and sent back to prison.Torres, Ginelle G. "Miami-dade Prison Escape Shortlived" (Archive). South Florida Sun Sentinel. April 30, 2005. Retrieved on June 28, 2014. "Three men who briefly escaped from a state prison in Homestead stole a pickup and led police on a chase that ended when they plunged the truck into a canal, authorities said. Miami-Dade police said the three convicted felons escaped from Dade Correctional Institution[...]"
In May 2014, Julie K. Brown of The Miami Herald penned the inaugural article in a series that delved into the pervasive issues of violence and corruption within Dade County Jail (Dade CI) and other prisons. Her article highlighted the persistent accusations of inadequate treatment of mentally ill inmates, deplorable conditions in the food preparation area, and other pressing concerns.Brown, Julie K. "Prisoner: I cleaned up skin of inmate scalded in shower; human-rights groups call for federal intervention" (Archive). Miami Herald. June 25, 2014.
In 2014 former Dade CI prisoner Harold Hempstead accused prison authorities of fatally torturing prisoner Darren Rainey by scalding him with water in a shower for hours, resulting in his body being found with strips of skin burned off. At least eight other prisoners had also been subjected to a scalding shower within Dade's "Transitional Care Unit".
In July 2014, Mike Crews, the FDOC secretary, suspended the warden of the Dade Correctional institution and put him on paid leave.Cordner, Sascha. "DOC Sec. Crews Suspends Warden Over Inmate Death Two Years Ago" (Archive). WFSU. July 10, 2014. Retrieved on May 26, 2015. Later that month Cummings was fired.Brown, Julie K. "Dade Correctional Institution warden fired after inmate death in shower reported" (Archive). Miami Herald. July 17, 2014. Retrieved on July 4, 2015. Les Odom became the new warden.Brown, Julie K. "Dade Correctional back in spotlight after strangling" (Archive). Miami Herald. August 1, 2014. Retrieved bn July 4, 2014.
On July 28, 2014, prison authorities discovered 35-year-old prisoner Lavar Valentin dead from strangulation. Valentin had expressed fear of his cellmate and authorities accused the cellmate of killing him.
Another escape occurred in November 2014. West Palm Beach police apprehended the escaped prisoner.Whigham, Julius II. "West Palm Beach cops nab convict who escaped from Homestead prison" () Palm Beach Post. Monday November 13, 2014. Retrieved on July 4, 2015. This prisoner had a life sentence. Cummings said that he was not surprised by the fact that a prisoner had escaped, saying that he found guards derelict in duty in a surprise inspection. According to Cummings, "[Dade] is, by far, the most dangerous prison I’ve ever worked in."
On April 29, 2022, four correctional officers were arrested for the February beating death of Ronald Ingram during a prisoner transfer. After a lengthy investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Ronald Connor, Jeremy Godbolt, Christopher Rolon and Kirk Walton. Ingram allegedly threw urine on a correctional officer and was beaten so severely he was carried to the transport van. Ingram was found dead hours later in Ocala, Florida.
References
External links "Dade Correctional Institution ." Florida Department of Corrections. "A Conceptual Land Use Plan for Dade Correctional Institution and Homestead Correctional Institution Dade County, Florida 2009-2019" (Archive). Florida Department of Corrections Land Management Section, Bureau of Procurement and Supply.