Workers’ playtime

With over 100,000 inmates, the Florida Department of Corrections should be very proud their guards have never used their stun guns on the prison population. It’s too bad that perfect record had to be marred during the annual “Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” Even worse that the stun guns were used on the visiting kids.

According to reports, while other groups of the five- to 17-year-olds were being treated to canine shows and pancake breakfasts, at least 40 of the daughters and sons were being stun-gunned at three of the 55 participating prisons. Several were shocked as part of circle demonstrations, in which participants join hands while one gets the gun, sending 50,000 volts through all those linked, and seven were given the juice in one-on-one encounters.

“We believe this behaviour is inexcusable,” commented DOC Secretary Walter McNeil. Clearly the parents of the kids disagree. All attendees have a relative in the department who gave consent to having their little darlings shocked.

So far, the fallout has seen three firings, two resignations and 16 threats of disciplinary action. Officials are also investigating an incident in which some children were accidentally exposed to tear gas.

by SCOTT SAXON