Is USP Coleman II understaffed? Larry Nassar's stabbing raises questions regarding safety at Florida prison
SUMTER COUNTY, FLORIDA: Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor, who was convicted for sexual abuse, is reportedly recovering after being stabbed several times inside the Coleman II federal prison in Sumter County, Florida. The prison's security has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that the attack occured after an altercation with another inmate broke in the cell.
Sources familiar with the matter told Wesh 2 that one of the officers in Nassar’s unit was working a third straight shift, 16-hour a day while another officer was on a second straight shift during the attack. "The staff are pretty much exhausted. They're beat down. You cannot run a prison with that many vacancies and expect us to protect and secure those inmates," Jose Rojas, a staff member and union president of AFGE Local 506, told the publication.
How is life at the Coleman II prison?
The Coleman II prison is a high-security federal prison located in Sumter County, Florida, about 50 miles northwest of Orlando. It is part of the Coleman Federal Penitentiary Complex and was established as a so-called "special needs prison" for inmates who are at great risk of being attacked inside the prison. The prison inmates include sex-offenders, former cops, former gang members and informants, among others.
As per information from a prison handbook obtained by Fox 35, life at the Coleman II prison is heavily monitored and regulated. Like other federal prisons, inmates at Coleman II are given regular assignments, most of which are paid through a performance pay system. The prison also offers a wide range of educational programs, including academic, social and vocational training programs. Inmates convicted of violent crimes are also required to attend a General Education Development (GED) Diploma.
All inmates in the prison have a specific time to wake up, eat meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as stipulated time for evening lockdown. Inmates are also visibly checked and counted throughout the day, with additional counts on weekends and holidays. No inmate is allowed to wear civilian clothing inside the prison and are limited to using prison-issued gear. They usually receive three pairs of footwear, including safety shoes, shower slippers and tennis shoes.
The Coleman II is also tobacco-free, as per the handbook. Inmates are allowed to buy items from the commissary but their purchases are limited to a maximum of $320 each, as per the handbook last updated in 2013. Visitation is restricted to certain times and days. There are a total of four prisons within the Coleman Federal Prison complex, including USP Coleman I, USP Coleman II, FCI Coleman Low and FCI Coleman Medium.
How many inmates are there in Coleman II prison?
As per the Federal Bureau of Prisons, more than 1,200 prisoners are incarcerated at the USP Coleman II prison facility. The website mentioned that the prison currently has 1,214 inmates, all of whom are male convicts. The prison has reportedly housed high-profile inmates like terrorist Mohammed Odeh, American-Mexican drug lord Edgar Valdez Villareal and Maryland street gang leader Ronnie Thomas, among others.
How many guards are there in Coleman Federal Prison Complex?
While the total number of inmates in the Coleman Federal Prison complex is allegedly over 6,000, the facility only has approximately 654 correctional officers, as per Village News. In June, several employees came together to raise concerns about understaffing in the prison complex. "While this number may sound sufficient, FCC Coleman is short staffed by 100 officers," said Peyton Perry, legislative coordinator for Local 506 at the Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman.
"This translates to 554 officers split between five institutions and five shifts, attempting to supervise 6,219 individuals convicted of committing crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, and sexual violations of our most vulnerable population, children," the coordinator continued, adding, "However, the complex suffers with daily vacant posts of approximately 175 positions equating to a staffing percentage in the 70’s. The inmates, all they have all day long to do is to watch us so we don't have to tell them that there's a staffing shortage – they see it."
Following the concerns, the Bureau of Prison spoke to WESH 2 about the situation. "For privacy, safety, and security reasons, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) does not discuss the conditions of confinement for any inmate or group of inmates including medical status," they said, adding, "However, we can confirm on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 2:35 pm, an inmate was assaulted at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Coleman II, in Sumterville, Florida. Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. The inmate was transported by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation."