Former Inmate Shows Pictures of Alleged Jail Abuse

ByLindy Thackston First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Genevieve Miller says a JSO Corrections officer beat her during booking last March after she was arrested for marijuana possession. Miller's mug shot shows two black eyes and a broken nose.

Miller says after the beating, she was put in a restraining chair. "The officers, they would walk by and laugh at me, they would point at me, point at their nose and laugh, they would raise their fist at me, and I just had to sit there," said Miller.

Miller's police report shows she wasn't resisting arrest. She filed a report with Internal Affairs, but the corrections officer was exonerated of any charges.

Genevieve isn't the only person who has claimed abuse. 50,000 people are arrested every year in Jacksonville, but the Chief of the Jail says less than one percent require the use of force. "When physical resistance is offered to a lawful command, that's the rule we use for using force," said Tara Wildes.

Wildes says officers can also use force as self-defense. But sometimes more force than necessary is used.

Former Corrections Officer Edward Mincey was indicted in January on charges he kicked an inmate in the head.

In December, federal investigations were launched into the deaths of two men in JSO custody.

Just this week, another inmate, John Laughon, was taken to the hospital after a struggle with officers.

Police say he's mentally ill, but Laughon's brother in law, Tony Seara, says he was having a seizure. "There's reports that he's this huge man with superhuman strength, that he attacked these guards and that's why he's in the hospital," said Seara. "He's not that big of a person - maybe 145 pounds."

Laughon has cracked ribs, and a collapsed lung. He remain unconscious at the hospital.

There are video cameras in the jail, but they are used as monitoring devices, and do not record activities.

Wildes says the number of times force is used has steadily dropped since 1996, even though the number of inmates has increased.

Wildes also says corrections officers are required to attend in-service training on interpersonal skills.

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