Florida Death Row Advocacy Group

Welcome

This packet was designed by the members of FDRAG-2003 to assist the families and friends of Death Row inmates with their transition into the rules and regulations of the Florida system. Our personal experiences of frustration and uncertainty as we were initiated into the system have lead us to hope that the information contained within the packet will save others from the same feelings.

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us from the list below.

We are here to help you.

Take care and stay strong,
FDRAG

Contact Information

USA

Hannah Floyd, (Can be contacted for info on newsletter, membership, visiting, places to stay, transport etc.)
137 N Walnut St, #14
Starke, FL 32091
E-mail: Hannahfloyd@yahoo.com
Tel: 904-964-4303 or 904 964 7303

Janice Figueroa
1120 Wild Oak Terrace
Deland, FL. 32720
E-mail: Tfigu@aol.com
Tel: 386-738-3968

Karin Elsea, (Contact person for the DC/Maryland area)
1400 East West Highway, #710
Silver Spring, MD 20910
E-mail: Karinelsea@hotmail.com
Tel: 301-565-3246

Dianne Abshire
9673 State Rt 65
Ottawa, OH 45875
E-mail: afua@woh.rr.com
Tel: 419-523-5816
(Can also be contacted re: legal matters for the attention of Florida Support Group)

The Netherlands

Jolanda Arends, Treilerstraat 168
NL - 1503 JM Zaandam
E-mail: jolanda-arends@zonnet.nl
Tel: +31-75-616-4862
(FDRAG membership and info pack)

Norway

Turid Sandberg Ihle
Bjarne Skaus vei 10
1362 Hosle
NORWAY
E-mail: sandih@online.no
Phone + fax: +47 671 49 797
Mobile: +47 988 09 435

DOC Visitation Rules

Unwritten Visitation Rules

The parking lot at the prison is not opened till 7:00 am. Visitors are no longer allowed to line up at the gate. Saturday and holiday visitors to UCI line up at the Handy Way located about a mile east of the UCI main gate. The death row visiting park is limited to 26 tables, and we suggest that you arrive early to secure a place in line. At approximately 6:55 am, the procession begins to move toward the prison. Visitors line up under the canopy at the main building, in the order in which they arrive at the Handy Way. At approximately 7:00, they are allowed in groups of five, to sign in. Please be sure, that you have a valid photo ID, and the tag number of your vehicle with you. If you have not registered as a visitor, you will be required to have your photo taken for the DOC records, your hand scanned and issued a visitor pin number. This number will be required at every visit. At approximately 8:30, the guards will begin calling names for passes and searches.

Sunday visitors need not line up at the Handy Way.

Visiting List Approval: Request a visitation form from your friend or loved one. After returning the completed form to the Central Visitation Authority, it takes approximately 6 weeks for approval. You will be notified by mail. Normally, a person is allowed to be on only one inmate’s visitation list.

NOTE: If you are applying from outside the continental U.S or its territories, you must attach a complete criminal history check from your local law enforcement agency to the application.

Special visits: Visitors travelling over 200 miles may request a special visit, allowing them two 6 hour visits instead of one. If your visit includes two weekends, then you may apply for two special visits. If the regular visiting day is Saturday, your special visit will be on Friday. If the regular visiting day is Sunday, your extra day will be on Monday. You can request a special visit by emailing; Christie.lynne@mail.dc.state.fl.us

Please read the visitation rules carefully. They are specific and are strictly enforced.

Directions to UCI

From East: SR-16, 11 miles west of Starke on left.

From North (MacClenny): SR-121 south approximately 17 miles to SR-16 (before town of Raiford). Turn left onto SR-16. Go approximately 2 miles. The Institution is on the right.

From West (Lake City): SR-100 approximately 23 miles to SR-121 (Lake Butler), turn left. Go approximately 6 miles. Just outside town of Raiford turn right (east) onto SR-16. Go approximately 2 miles. The Institution is on the right.

Directions to FSP

From East: SR-16, 11 miles west of Starke on left. Go through archway, circle to left, Administration Building (Red Brick) behind parking lot.

From North (MacClenny): SR-121 south approximately 17 miles to SR-16 (before town of Raiford). Turn left onto SR-16. Go approximately 3 miles, cross New River Bridge. The Institution is on the right.

From South: US-301 north approximately 35 miles north of Gainesville to Starke. Turn left onto SR-16 (Raiford Road) (West), go approximately 11 miles. The Institution is on the left.

From West (Lake City): SR-100 approximately 23 miles to SR-121 (Lake Butler), turn left, go approximately 6 miles, just outside town of Raiford turn right (east) onto SR-16. Go approximately 3 miles, cross New River Bridge. The Institution is on the right.

DO NOT visit until the you are approved
see Visitation Approval Form - click here!

Lodging Information

Local Cab -Veterans Cab 904 964 9117

Motels in Starke (low-budget) & visitor friendly:

Sleepy Hollow Motel 317 N. Temple Ave. HWY 301 Starke, FL 32091 904-964-5006	Deluxe Inn 1900 N temple Avenue Starke, FL 32091 904-964-5477
Budget Inn 739 N Temple Avenue Starke, FL 32091 904-964-7143	Days Inn 1101 N. Temple Avenue Starke, FL 32021 940-964-7600

Affordable Lodging in Keystone

If you prefer alternative accomodations, the town of Keystone, just 10-15 minutes from Starke, offers rooms in a private home. Within walking distance of the local shopping center and restaurants, the home is situated near Keystone "beach", a large lake with sandy shores and bathing bridges, where you may swim and top off your tan during the day. You may choose sitting on the screened porch and overlooking the palm trees and oaks. One side of the house boasts a beautiful flower garden where you may want to enjoy the fresh air while writing letters, listening to the birds or simply relaxing. There is also a huge lawn with swing sets for your child’s enjoyment

All rooms have new beds. Clean linen and towels are provided, and there’s access to the kitchen and bathroom. Each room has it’s own TV. Besides the comfortable accommodation, other services are offered. If you are bringing children with you, babysitting will be provided for a small fee. If you need transportation, arrangements for airport pickups and drop offs in Jacksonville and trips to and from the prison are available. Rates are:

$195 per week – including pick up and drop of at Jax airport, 2 trips to the prison and back.

$135 per week – includes two trips to and from the prison. (If you have your own hire car breakfast will be included, which you can prepare at any times during the day).

$85 for a long weekend (including transportation as listed above)

The hostess speaks English, French and German.

Please call Hannah for further information 904-964-4303.

Flights to Florida

We often hear from folks who are on the lookout for places that offer good deals on flights to visit loved ones in Florida. Here are a few websites suggested by some of our members that you might like to check out for low price quotes.

How to Send Money

Email to central.accounting@mail.dc.state.fl.us to request deposit forms or call the toll free number 1-866-209-7250, or send a written request to:

Department Of Corrections
Financial Service Center
Centerville Station
P.O. Box 13600
Tallahassee, FL. 32317-3600

Instructions are on the back of the form. Please read and send your form and money order, cashiers check or bank draft to the following address. The funds will be credited to your inmate’s account and he will be notified. Florida Department of Corrections

Inmate Bank
Centerville Station
PO Box 12100
Tallahassee, FL. 32317-2100

Inmate Bank in Tallahassee
central.accounting@mail.dc.state.fl.us - General Mail Address
straley.jeff@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Employee at Inmate Bank
richards.johnitta@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Employee at Inmate Bank

DOC employees at UCI      DOC employees at FSP
decker.paul@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Warden
howard.bonita@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Secretary to Warden
barry.ronald@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Assistant Warden
bassett.sam@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Assistant Warden
thompson.joseph@mail.dc.state.fl.us - Warden

DOC Office of Family Services

The Office of Family Services is responsible for improving the communication between families, their incarcerated loved ones, and the department. Accordingly, the Family Ombudsman acts as a liaison between families and the department, ensuring that complaints related to transfers, medical conditions, physical abuse and other general concerns are analyzed, evaluated, and handled according to department procedures and applicable rules and statutes. The Family Ombudsman supervises the Correspondence Control Unit, coordinates with the Bureau of Legislative Affairs and Bureau of Public Affairs regarding family issues, makes recommendations to executive staff regarding family issues, and monitors institutional visitation.

Sylvia Williams, Family Ombudsman
(850) 410-4243, SunCom 210-4243

Rules Governing Books, Periodicals and Personal Communications

Complete regulations regarding the sending of publications to inmates and mail rules may be found in Index to Rules, Title 33, Department of Corrections. We advise that you print the information and read it carefully. Violation of the rules may cause loss of writing and visitation privileges.

Neither letters nor publications will be accepted if they contain subject matter that: Depicts/describes construction or use of weapons, ammunition, bomb, chemical agents, incendiary devices. Depicts/encourages/describes methods of escape or contains blueprints, drawings, descriptions of facilities or maps that facilitate escape. Depicts/describes procedures for brewing alcoholic beverages or manufacture of drugs or other intoxicants. Is written in code. Depicts/encourages/describes activities leading to use of physical violence or group disruption. Encourages/instructs in the commission of criminal activity. Is dangerously inflammatory in that it advocates or encourages riot, insurrection, institutional disruption, or violation of department rules. Threatens physical harm, blackmail or extortion. Depicts sexual conduct as follows: actual or simulated sexual intercourse; sexual bestiality; masturbation; actual contact with a person's unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, female breast; any act or conduct which constitutes sexual battery or simulates that sexual battery is being or will be committed. Depicts nudity or a lewd exhibition of genitals in such a way as to create the appearance of sexual conduct is imminent Display of contact or intended contact with a person's unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breasts orally, digitally or by foreign object. Display of sexual organs in an aroused state. Contains criminal history, offender registration, or other personal information about another inmate or offender, which , in the hands of an inmate, presents a threat to the security, order or rehabilitative objectives of the correctional system or to the safety of any person; Contains or appears to contain unknown or unidentifiable substances; or Otherwise presents a threat to the security, order or rehabilitative objectives of the correctional system or the safety of any person. Finally, ensure you are familiar and comply with the requirements of 33-501.401 (10) through (13). Briefly they are: Inmates, except for those in Close Management, may subscribe to no more than one daily or weekly newspaper and four other periodicals. Inmates in Close Management are limited to one (1) newspaper and one (1) periodical subscription. An inmate is not allowed to keep more than one copy of any volume, issue or edition of any book, periodical or other publication. (For example: may keep January and February 2003 issues, but not two copies of the January 2003 issue.) Inmate must be able to store the materials in his/her personal living area. Unless otherwise provided in 33-601.800, inmates are limited to possession of 4 books. Religious materials, law books (not in the institution's law library), and books received pursuant to an approved correspondence study course do not count against this limit. For security concerns, inmates at Florida State Prison Main Unit or in death row and close Management status other institutions are not allowed to receive hard-bound books. Books, periodicals or other publications must be sent directly to an inmate from a publisher, mail order distributor, or bookstore. DO NOT attempt to send a package of any type to inmate--it will be rejected. Books, periodicals or other publications forwarded to inmates must be sent through the United States Postal Service. Materials delivered by package delivery services, such as United Parcel Service (UPS), Fed Ex, etc., will be refused. For more information on Admissible Reading Materials, please contact faq-libraryservices@mail.dc.state.fl.us.

There is no limit to the number of pages allowable in written correspondence. Greeting cards may not contain electronic or other non-paper parts, cards which are constructed in such a way as to permit concealment of contraband, or be are larger than 8"x10". Up to 5 pages of additional materials, may be enclosed in each letter. Pages can be no larger than 8 1/2 x 14 inches in size, and may be printed on both sides. No bound publications which are allowed. Individual newspaper or magazine articles or clippings or clippings from other publications are permissible, within the 5 page limit. No item may be glued, taped, stapled or otherwise affixed to a page. No decorative stickers are allowed either on envelopes or letters. No photocopied books are accepted. Requests to send enclosures of greater than five pages shall be made to the warden or his designee prior to sending the material. Exceptions to the five page limitation are intended for enclosures concerning legal, medical, or other significant issues, and not for material for general reading or entertainment purposes. The warden shall advise the sender and the mail room of his approval or disapproval of the request.

Photographs will be counted toward the 5 page additional materials limitation. Nudity or sexual content is not allowed. Polaroid photographs will not be permitted. Photographs shall not exceed 8"x10". Exceptions to the 5 page limitation for additional materials include: self-addressed stamped envelopes (10), the equivalent of 20 (1 ounce) first class stamps, blank greeting cards (no larger than 8"x10", limit 10), stationery or other blank paper or envelopes. The following items are not permissible for inclusion in or attachment to routine mail addressed to an inmate: Non-paper items; Items of a non-communicative nature such as lottery tickets or matchbooks; Stickers or stamps (other than postage stamps, postal service attachments, and address labels affixed to the outside of the envelope); Address labels (other than those affixed to the outside of the envelope); Laminated cards or other laminated materials.

When an inmate is prohibited from receiving any item of mail, the inmate and the sender will be given notice in writing that the mail has been disapproved stating one of the authorized reasons for disapproval. The Unauthorized Mail Return Receipt, Form DC2-521, will be placed in the original envelope with the correspondence and returned to the sender. If contraband is discovered in the mail (other than contraband of an illegal nature), the contraband item and the correspondence will be returned to the sender with the Unauthorized Mail Return Receipt included. When an inmate is transferred or released, routine mail addressed to the inmate at his old institution shall be treated as follows: For 1 month after the transfer or release, all first-class and second-class mail will be returned to the post office within 10 working days of receipt with a forwarding address, if available, and a request will be made to postal authorities to forward. All postage due is the responsibility of the inmate and must be paid in accordance with postage regulations. At the end of the 1-month period, all first-class and second-class routine mail will be returned to the U.S. Postal Service with no attempt to have mail forwarded. From the date of transfer or release, all routine mail other than first-class and second-class will be returned to the U.S. Postal Service for its disposition. Inmates may not send mail to any person who has advised the warden that he does not wish to receive mail from the inmate. The parents or legal guardians of a person under the age of 18 may advise that mail is not to be sent to such person. Upon receipt of such advisement, the warden will cause to be prepared an acknowledgment specifying that the inmate will not be permitted to send mail to the person requesting the correspondence restriction and that such person should return any further mail received from the inmate and notify the warden of the attempt to correspond. After the inmate is notified of the correspondence restriction, any further attempt to correspond will be considered a violation of Administrative Rule 33-210.102 and of Section 9-14 of the Rules of Prohibited Conduct, (Administrative Rule 33-601.314, F.A.C.) and will subject the inmate to disciplinary action.

Little Things That Make a Big Difference

Computer

Create and print your own special and personal stationary for you loved one.

Pre print envelopes - often. (It’s nice, and the canteen price of the “lopes“ is way high)

Send jokes, articles, anything of interest, that you find when surfing the “net”

Holidays

Send blank greeting cards for them to mail to family and pen pals. These cannot be purchased through canteen. If you find them on sale, send a lot so they can pass to those who have nothing. Do not send them boxed.

Send doilies and napkins fitting the season. That is really appreciated.

Bookmarks are allowed as long as they are not laminated. Pretty ones can be found at many bookstores.

Other

The men are allowed one religious pendant with a chain. They have to ask the chaplain for a request form for a pendant. Once they get that they can send it to you and you can find one for them. The pendant has to be returned to the institution with the yellow “approval for a pendant” form. The rules specify that the pendant may not cost more than 25 dollars so make sure the store include the receipt.

Check out radio stations in the area that takes requests. It is a real treat for the guys to hear a personal message or song on the radio.

Send Special Art Paper (10 sheets at a time). Card Stock can be purchased at any office supply store.

Make sure they always have stamps enough. No more than 20 at a time, and not too many so they get in trouble.

Photos

Home, yourself, relatives, your garden, pets, anything that make the guys feel they are still part of, and up to date with what happens in your life. Only five at a time.

Books and Subscriptions

You can order books on the net or have the books sent directly from a bookstore. Remember you are not allowed to send books yourself. www.Booksamillion.com is a great place to go to. Or you can use www.Amazon.com that also has used books that are allowed at the prison. Just make sure you chose a seller whose email has to do with books. If the email is a private name they won’t get the book. Also remember that hard cover books are allowed but will be ripped and stripped, so no need to buy that if you can get a cheaper paperback.

A real hit is to get a newspaper subscription from their hometown. Even just a weekend subscription is great.

INNOCENCE PROJECTS

The Innocence Project
Barry C. Scheck
Brookdale Center 55 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10003-4391

NOVA South Eastern University
Florida Innocence Project
Leo Goodwin Sr. Hall
3305 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7721

Death Penalty Legal Representation Project
For the Innocent
398 West Colorado Avenue Box 22-125
Telluride, Colorado, 81435

Centurion Ministries
32 Nassau Street 3rd floor
Princeton, New Jersey 08542

NAACP legal Defense and education fund
Capital Defense Project
99 Hudson Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Justice Kogan
University of Miami School of Law
1311 Miller Drive
Coral Gables, Florida 33146

David Protess
North Western University
633 Clark Street
Evanston, Illinois 60208