Friday, July 10, 2009

More Kids May Have Been Zapped at Florida Prisons

As reported on July 8, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

MIAMI — More than 40 children shocked with stun guns while visiting prisons in April may not have been the first ones zapped, according to a report released Tuesday.
A corrections officer told investigators she saw a similar demonstration at a prison about five years ago.
The report included hundreds of pages of documents gathered during probes ordered after the Department of Corrections learned children ages 5 to 17 had been shocked at three Florida prisons on April 23, "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." Three employees were fired and two resigned. More than a dozen others were disciplined.
No children were seriously hurt or taken to hospitals. At one prison, those who had been shocked were told they could be first to get hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch, according to the report. Some asked to be shocked and laughed afterward. Some children were shocked individually while others were part of a circle where children and officers held hands so the shock would be passed around. The department cannot investigate the earlier demonstration mentioned in the report because the officer could not remember exactly when it happened or who was involved.
The report also confirmed what officials had said earlier — that some children's parents were asked for permission but others were not. Department of Corrections Secretary Walter McNeil has said previously that even though some parents had given permission that did not excuse officers.
The documents released Tuesday included a resignation letter from Lt. P.J. Weisner, who was involved in one of the demonstrations. "The exercise that I participated in has been a common practice. At no time did I believe that any of the students were in any risk," wrote Weisner, who had been with the department for 11 years. "It is a shame that since this has become a media event, state employees would attempt to obtain some sort of fame at the detriment of their co-workers."
The Department of Corrections also investigated a demonstration the same day where children were accidentally exposed to the tear gas when the wind shifted, but none required medical care.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: As it turns out, you can’t use stun guns on kids. Parent’s get angry…cause they aren’t allowed to use them themselves without someone calling social services. Maybe they should try different activity at the prison’s “take your kid to work day.”…like maybe a prison brawl…or a food fight at lunchtime…or maybe a small shootout with guards! All in all- a great learning experience for a budding criminal!

1 comment:

  1. I'm actually a little stunned by this story. I took my kid to work one day and all he did was watch me type. I asked him if a little fun with my work tazer would cheer him up, but he yawned and declined and asked if he could enjoy a little of the carple-tunnel I was developing instead. Kids these days!

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