{"id":74097,"date":"2022-09-13T17:40:35","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T17:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/09\/13\/national-guard-tapped-to-help-in-understaffed-florida-prisons\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:40:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:40:32","slug":"national-guard-tapped-to-help-in-understaffed-florida-prisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2022\/09\/13\/national-guard-tapped-to-help-in-understaffed-florida-prisons\/","title":{"rendered":"National Guard tapped to help in understaffed Florida prisons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Florida National Guard troops were approved by the state\u2019s legislature Friday to assist, even temporarily, at understaffed state prisons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also issued an executive order<\/a> Friday activating Guardsmen to assist the Florida Department of Corrections in an effort to reduce overtime and provide relief for correctional officers on a temporary basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are preparing for that mission, and are estimating a requirement of up to 300 FLNG Guardsmen for a period not to exceed 9 months,\u201d Florida Guard spokesman Will Manley said in a statement to Military Times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tallahassee Democrat reported<\/a> that the state plan sets aside<\/a> more than $31 million to \u201cassist the FDC at facilities for nine months or until the FDC determines it no longer needs National Guard assistance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The executive order said Guardsmen won\u2019t be used for \u201cany direct supervision of inmates except where such supervision occurs as a normal part of manning control stations or when required in an emergency pertaining to safety and security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florida National Guard Lt. Col. Peter Jennison told the Tallahassee Democrat he expected all those assigned would volunteer for the prison assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\t