Imani Jackson Comments on Federal Prison Transparency and Weather Emergencies

Imani Jackson, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information legal fellow, is the author of “Mother Nature Can’t Equalize All: Federal Prison Transparency and Environmental Exigencies”  published in the Brechner Report on Oct. 8.

Jackson focuses on the Brechner Center’s investigation of how the federal Bureau of Prisons chose not to evacuate the Miami federal prisons in 2017 when the facilities were slated to bear the brunt of Hurricane Irma.

“If the federal government acts transparently during disaster decision-making, then space to improve prison conditions for both inmates and correctional officers should open,” said Jackson. “A clearer understanding of what occurs in prisons and how the feds govern these facilities could result in improvements for inmates and correctional officers, especially in times of environmental emergency.”

She adds, “Public calls for climate emergency and criminal justice reform fit with public needs for carceral decision-maker transparency. These decision-makers should ensure staff training, proper planning and the timely performance of evacuations during environmental exigencies.”

Posted: October 15, 2019
Category: College News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Imani Jackson