Category Archives: Race & Social Justice Posts

Are Florida Drug Courts Destabilizing Their Participants?

By Mya Nobles The primary goal of creating drug court was to reduce recidivism and allow participants to get back on their feet.[1] However, with the steep court costs and financial obligations, drug courts can potentially be an anchor that destabilizes and hinders participants from moving forward with their lives. Florida became the birthplace of […]

Would Amendment 4 Have Achieved A Supermajority If Not For Governor DeSantis’s Overreaching and Autocratic Measures?

By Natalie Gonzalez Introduction Over 6 million Floridians, representing 57.2% of voters, voted yes on Amendment 4; however, the results ultimately fell short. Since 2006, Florida’s Constitution has required a supermajority for any constitutional amendments, including those initiated by citizens. This blog explores a more recent obstacle beyond the supermajority: Governor Ron DeSantis. Among the […]

Left Behind: Natural Disasters and Vulnerable Incarcerated Populations

By Radha Patel As climate change threatens coastal communities, natural disasters are growing more severe and are devastating at-risk populations. Floridian cities have particularly been impacted by a major rise in intensified hurricanes.[i] Following Hurricane Helene and Milton, several cities in Central Florida were left with significant damage to their streets and homes.[ii] Fortunately, several […]

Prison Overheating and the Deliberate Indifference Standard in the Eleventh Circuit

By Natalie Kemper The problem of dangerously hot prison conditions is not new. However, this issue has become increasingly more prevalent due to climate change, a rise in heat-related deaths, and a lack of effective policy. In Florida, inmates in around three-quarters of prisons are subjected to a lack of air conditioning.[1] An extensive study […]