Personal Injury: Florida Juvenile Justice Unit Faces Tough Questions Over Abuse Accusations

The acting superintendent and a juvenile justice officer at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida have been fired after abuse accusations.

Juvenile justice staff fired over boy's injury

The incident involved an 18-year-old resident who accused juvenile justice residential officer Alvin Speights of knocking him unconscious while choking him. While the resident is charged with assault, the facility has been plagued in the past with battery and even aggravated manslaughter in other incidents.

"There are systemic operational problems at our Dozier facility that span the chain of command from top to bottom," said Walt McNeil, the secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. He cited the firings as part of ongoing moves to change the culture at Dozier.