Guruba Griffin, Prisoner Abuse, Florida 2012

MIAMI, FL - A South Florida corrections officer was sentenced to prison today in federal court for a civil rights charge stemming from prisoner abuse that took place at the South Florida Reception Center (SFRC), a state prison in Doral, Fla. Guruba Griffin, 32, a Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) officer, was sentenced by District Judge Cecilia Altonaga to serve one year in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.

On Dec. 13, 2011, Griffin entered a guilty plea to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. Griffin’s plea followed a trial in October 2011 where a jury was unable to reach a verdict as to his involvement in a civil rights conspiracy against inmates at SFRC. Griffin’s co-defendant, Scott Butler, was acquitted by the same jury, while a second jury found Sergeant Alexander McQueen guilty of conspiracy against civil rights and obstruction of justice and convicted Officer Steven Dawkins for obstruction of justice. McQueen and Dawkins were sentenced to twelve months in prison and one month in prison, respectively, in January of this year.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 25, 2009, SFRC corrections officers physically abused inmates by choking, punching and striking them with wooden broom handles. The officers further forced the inmates to fight one another. Additionally, McQueen and Dawkins falsified reports relating to these incidents.

“Abuse of power by corrections officers who violate the civil rights of those in their custody will not be tolerated,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute those who cross the line to engage in acts of criminal violence.”

When asked about Griffin's sentence, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “When individuals sworn to uphold the law instead abuse their power and infringe upon the civil rights of others, the public’s confidence in our system of justice suffers.” He added, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting everyone’s civil rights and promoting confidence in our system.”

Sentencing for Guruba Griffin took place on January 2012. Griffin was found guilty of deprivation of rights under color of law. Griffin’s co-defendant, Scott Butler, was acquitted, while Sergeant Alexander McQueen and Officer Steven Dawkins were sentenced to twelve months in prison and one month in prison respectively.

The abuse of power by corrections officers will not be tolerated. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Inspector General’s Office, Florida Department of Corrections, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Rhee Osborne of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Litigation Counsel Gerard Hogan and Trial Attorney Henry Leventis of the Civil Rights Division.

Guruba Griffin, a 32-year-old Florida Department of Corrections officer, was sentenced to serve one year in prison and one year of supervised release. Griffin was found guilty of deprivation of rights under color of law stemming from prisoner abuse that took place at the South Florida Reception Center in Doral, Fla.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/south-florida-corrections-officer-sentenced-federal-civil-rights-charge