FOLLOW US

  • facebook
  • twitter
Sun

March 15, 2026

America February 20, 2020

The Florida Department of Corrections is still taking bullets for Rick Scott

America ı By Catherine Davis

2,987 0 Comments

It is no secret that Rick Scott did not make the Florida Department of Corrections or disabled inmates even the slightest of priorities while Governor of the State of Florida.

In 2014, according to the Miami Herald, Rick Scott’s Chief of Staff, Adam Hollingsworth, told then Secretary Mike Crews, that he needed “to take a bullet for the governor.” Since then, Corrections continues to take bullets for the former governor and now U.S. Senator.

Scott slashed DOC’s budget for years, causing critically dangerous low levels of staffing within the prisons and a lack of necessary care for inmates with disabilities. Under Scott, in 2014, inmate deaths reached a record high. When Scott was forced to confront the record number of inmate deaths under his control, his budget did not allocate any new resources to investigate those deaths.

When DOC had a 654 employee shortfall in the prisons, he only offered to give the agency funding to fill half of those vacancies. By not addressing the crisis of empty positions within the agency, Scott’s indifference to DOC caused use of force against inmates to almost double, causing dangerous conditions for inmates and employees.

Rick Scott’s administration knew that it wasn’t treating inmates with HCV despite it being the standard of care to treat HCV with direct acting antivirals since 2014, yet his administration treated less than 20 in those four years, and those were only treated after the agency was sued in a blockbuster class action that ultimately cost the state over $100 million. Arguably, this cost could have been avoided had Scott and his administration been more diligent in treating medical conditions of inmates. While Scott cost Florida taxpayers money by ignoring this crisis within DOC, he profited off of it personally as his trust, which he alleges to have no control or insight into, had invested approximately $1.1 million with Gilead, the company that created the “cure” for HCV and the company that the State of Florida paid $21.7 million to for the HCV cure treatment in 2018.

Scott’s administration also saw the death of two disabled inmates, Darren Rainey and Randall Jordan-Aparo alleged to have occurred at the hands of dirty correctional officers, which cost the State of Florida over $6 million to settle just those two cases. The horrific irony of these settlements and costs is that they would have been exponentially higher if the inmates had lived. Disabled inmates under Scott had it especially rough, and specifically in 2017 when the then prison secretary Julie Jones concluded that there were several shortcomings in mental health services in a South Florida prison.

12

Previous Article

Bloomberg savaged by rivals in Democratic Debate

Read More
Catherine Davis
225 Posts

Catherine Davis

Catherine Davis is a contributor to the USA Herald. She covers politics and reports on issues of the times.

Don’t Miss It
Arizona January 11, 2025
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA Herald for Arizona Bar Investigation

In what appears as a desperate attempt to defend multiple allegations of fraud on the courts, the Kelly Warner Law…

By – USA Herald
Arizona January 4, 2025
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To Attacking Former Client Again On KellyWarnerLaw.com – Pattern Recognized

Attorney Aaron Kelly and his law partner Daniel Warner are currently under investigation by the Arizona Bar for legal misconduct.…

By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona December 12, 2024
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney Aaron Kelly

USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys Daniel Warner and Aaron Kelly. Both Warner and Kelly have…

By – Paul O'Neal
America March 12, 2026
Old Dominion University Shooting Investigated as Terrorism After Gunman Identified

Authorities have identified the suspect in the Old Dominion University Shooting, a violent campus attack that left one person dead…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Gulf Travelers’ Jet Prices Soar as War Disrupts Middle East Air Travel

As conflict intensifies across the Middle East, a sudden and dramatic shift in air travel has unfolded. The escalating war…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Shooting at Michigan Synagogue Leaves Suspect Dead After Security Confrontation

A violent incident unfolded Thursday afternoon at Temple Israel, where authorities say a suspect rammed a truck into the synagogue…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Stolen Military Drones And The Emerging Threat of Foreign UAV Attacks On The California Coast

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A quiet warning issued to California law-enforcement agencies has raised a troubling…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Hollywood’s “Disclosure Day” And Washington’s Silence Raise Questions About Timing of UFO Transparency

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A curious convergence is beginning to capture attention among observers of government transparency, national…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Scientists Identify 22 Anomalies In Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS As It Leaves The Solar System

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is now fading from view, heading back into deep space…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Iran Appears To Have Conducted Its First Major Cyberattack Against A U.S. Company, Since The War Began – New Front Opens Against American Healthcare

An alleged Iran-linked cyberattack on Stryker appears to mark a dangerous turn in the conflict, pushing digital retaliation from nuisance-level…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Hormuz Shock Hits U.S. Legal And Insurance Sectors As War Risk, Cargo Claims And Contract Fights Begin to Spread

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – The developing Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer just an energy-market…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Beyond Gas Prices The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Could Hit Fertilizer, Plastics, Aluminum And Global Supply Chains

By Samuel Lopez | USA Herald – Right now, most Americans hearing about the Strait of Hormuz are thinking about…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Fani Willis Blocked From Trump Fee Fight As Georgia Judge Lets $16.8 Million Reimbursement Battle Move Forward

INSIDE THIS REPORT A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot re-enter the collapsed Trump…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Cumulus Media Files for Chapter 11 as Radio Giant Moves to Cut Massive Debt

In a dramatic turn for one of America’s largest radio broadcasters, Cumulus Media has filed for bankruptcy protection, seeking a…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Gordie Howe Bridge Tolls Revealed Ahead of Spring Opening

The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge is inching closer to welcoming travelers, and officials have finally unveiled a key piece…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Nasa Satellite to Crash to Earth as Spacecraft Re-enters Atmosphere

A Nasa satellite to crash to Earth has prompted warnings from space officials, who say debris from the aging spacecraft…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Lux Aeterna $10M Seed Funding Fuels Ambitious Reusable Satellite Vision

A Colorado startup aiming to change how satellites operate — and survive — in space has secured fresh investment to…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Jupiter’s Shift Direction Lights Up the Night Sky Again

Skywatchers may notice something unusual unfolding overhead this week as Jupiter’s shift direction brings an end to months of celestial…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Google and Tesla Power Grid Initiative Targets Lower Energy Costs

Two of the world’s most influential technology companies are stepping into the energy policy arena, launching a campaign they say…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Trump’s Laser Talk Sparks New Questions About America’s Secret Arsenal

President Donald Trump has once again done what he often does best in moments of war and tension: he dropped…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
The Northern Lights Return

The Northern Lights have a chance to be visible from several northern U.S. states on Tuesday night, forecasters at the…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
February Unemployment Up as Job Losses Surprise Economists

February Unemployment Up as the latest labor market data revealed weaker-than-expected job growth and a slight increase in the national…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National at Florida Beach

A Late-night attack by a Venezuelan National has left a Florida community shaken after authorities say a 26-year-old man ambushed…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Trump’s War in Iran: Congress Confronts Escalation After U.S. Strikes

Trump’s War in Iran  was triggered open conflict, casualties, and renewed constitutional debate in Washington. The crisis intensified following reports…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 28, 2026
U.S. And Israel Launch Major Strikes On Iran — What It Means For America

TEHRAN, Iran – In a dramatic escalation of global tensions, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Fani Willis Blocked From Trump Fee Fight As Georgia Judge Lets $16.8 Million Reimbursement Battle Move Forward

INSIDE THIS REPORT A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot re-enter the collapsed Trump…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
FBI Bulletin Raises Troubling Questions About California’s Readiness

[USA HERALD] – A leaked FBI bulletin has now forced an uncomfortable question into the open along California’s coast. If…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Google and Tesla Power Grid Initiative Targets Lower Energy Costs

Two of the world’s most influential technology companies are stepping into the energy policy arena, launching a campaign they say…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Medtronic to Buy Scientia Vascular in $550 Million Neurovascular Deal

In a move poised to reshape the future of stroke treatment technology, Medtronic to buy Scientia Vascular marks a major…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Winklevoss Twins’ Bitcoin Transfer Sparks Market Speculation

A wave of cryptocurrency movement tied to the founders of the Gemini exchange is drawing fresh attention across the digital…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Alabama Man Fatal Shooting Death Sentence Commuted by Governor

In a rare act of clemency that halted an imminent execution, the Alabama man fatal shooting death sentence tied to…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America February 21, 2026
When The Files Are Finally Unsealed The Most Mind-Bending Truth May Not Be What We Expect

[USA HERALD] – There is a widespread assumption that if governments release their most highly classified files related to unidentified…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 17, 2026
Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84 As President Trump Issues Personal Tribute

[USA HERALD] — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure of the American civil rights movement whose career spanned more than…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 13, 2026
Clues to Savannah Guthrie Missing Mom’s Disappearance Found on Security System

The disappearance of the mother of Savannah Guthrie has taken a dramatic turn as investigators focus on digital clues tied…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 8, 2026
Mike Tyson Urges Americans to ‘Eat Real Food’ in Emotional Super Bowl Ad Highlighting Health Risks

Boxing legend Mike Tyson is using his platform ahead of Super Bowl 60 to address a personal and national health…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 7, 2026
Deadly “Death Cap” Mushrooms in California Cause Multiple Deaths and Liver Transplants Amid Rare Super Bloom

California health officials are warning the public after four deaths and three liver transplants linked to the highly toxic death…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 7, 2026
From Migraines to Miracles: How Becca Valle Survived a Glioblastoma Diagnosis Against the Odds

Becca Valle, 41, thought her headaches were just migraines—until a sudden, unbearable pain revealed something far more serious. In September…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 1, 2026
Cadillac Names Inaugural Formula 1 Car MAC-26 in Tribute to Mario Andretti Ahead of 2026 Australian Grand Prix Debut

Cadillac has officially revealed the name of its first Formula 1 challenger, confirming that its 2026 car will be called…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 20, 2026
Norway Tops Medal Table After Day 13 at 2026 Winter Olympics as Team USA Surges Into Second Place

With 13 days complete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Norway sits atop the overall medal standings, collecting 34…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 18, 2026
Olympic Science Explained: How Figure Skaters Spin at Blinding Speeds Without Getting Dizzy

When Amber Glenn finishes her routine, the arena usually rises with her. The music builds, her blades carve a tight…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 16, 2026
Olympic Villages Run Out of Condoms at 2026 Milan-Cortina Games

Condom supplies in the Olympic Villages at the 2026 Winter Games have been temporarily depleted, the Milan-Cortina organizing committee confirmed,…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 12, 2026
Arizona Authorities Escalate Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mom to a Criminal Investigation

In Arizona, police are intensifying their investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s Mom. The 84-year-old mother of…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 10, 2026

As conversations around sexuality continue to expand, so does the language we use to describe it. Sexuality terms are gaining…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

No comments No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter