A legislative budget panel has approved $8.2 million in funding to continue the deployment of Florida National Guard members at state prisons until June. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission (JLBC) approved the request from the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) on Wednesday.
National Guard members have been assisting at Florida prisons for over two years due to staffing shortages and an increase in the inmate population. Governor Ron DeSantis first authorized the use of National Guard members in September 2022 and has issued several extensions since then.
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The FDC’s request for funding indicated that the current activation of National Guard members is set to expire on June 9th and that this latest extension will allow for a “phased demobilization effort.” Currently, 283 National Guard members are working at prisons across the state.
However, the repeated extensions have drawn criticism from some lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, D-Sunny Isles Beach. “This was a temporary measure that is not so temporary,” Pizzo commented during Wednesday’s JLBC meeting.
The JLBC’s approval of the funding highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Florida prison system in addressing staffing shortages and maintaining safety and security within its facilities.
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