Florida State Prison
Encyclopedia
Florida State Prison formerly known as the Union Correctional Institution—East Unit, is a correctional institution located in unincorporated
Bradford County
, Florida
. It is located on Florida State Road 16 right across the border from Union County. The institution opened in 1961, even though construction was not completed until 1968. With a maximum population of over 1,400 inmates, FSP is one of the largest prisons in the state. FSP houses one of the state's three death row
cell blocks, and the state's execution chamber
. Union Correctional Institution
and Lowell Annex also house male and female death row inmates, respectively. However, FSP only houses male inmates; female inmates are housed here only if they were scheduled to be executed within a few weeks.
Lethal injection
became the standard method of execution in 2000. The electric chair is only used if the condemned person requests it.
FSP sits in the center of several other prisons. It is surrounded by New River East, New River O-Unit, FSP West Unit, and sits across the river from Union Correctional Institution. Even though Union Correctional Institution is on the same property, immediately north-west of FSP, the county line (with Union County
) runs in between the two, which makes Raiford
the United States Postal Service
address city of Union Correctional Institution, while Starke
is the USPS address city of Florida State Prison.
FSP is Florida's only prison that is officially named "prison," with the other institutions being named "Correctional Institutions" (or "Correctional Facility" if it is a privately contracted prison).
's song "Four Walls of Raiford" tells the story of a convict who escapes from the Florida State Prison.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Bradford County
Bradford County, Florida
Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It is located on Florida State Road 16 right across the border from Union County. The institution opened in 1961, even though construction was not completed until 1968. With a maximum population of over 1,400 inmates, FSP is one of the largest prisons in the state. FSP houses one of the state's three death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
cell blocks, and the state's execution chamber
Execution chamber
An execution chamber, or death chamber, is a room or chamber in which a legal execution is carried out. Execution chambers are almost always inside the walls of a maximum-security prison, although not always at the same prison where the death row population is housed...
. Union Correctional Institution
Union Correctional Institution
Union Correctional Institution, formerly referred to as “Florida State Prison”, “Raiford Prison” and “State Prison Farm” is located in unincorporated Union County, Florida, near Raiford. Opened in 1913, the prison underwent large scale renovation and restructure in 1961 splitting into the present...
and Lowell Annex also house male and female death row inmates, respectively. However, FSP only houses male inmates; female inmates are housed here only if they were scheduled to be executed within a few weeks.
Lethal injection
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
became the standard method of execution in 2000. The electric chair is only used if the condemned person requests it.
FSP sits in the center of several other prisons. It is surrounded by New River East, New River O-Unit, FSP West Unit, and sits across the river from Union Correctional Institution. Even though Union Correctional Institution is on the same property, immediately north-west of FSP, the county line (with Union County
Union County, Florida
Union County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916. The county seat is Lake Butler.- History :...
) runs in between the two, which makes Raiford
Raiford, Florida
Raiford is a town in Union County, Florida, United States. The population was 187 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
address city of Union Correctional Institution, while Starke
Starke, Florida
Starke is a city in Bradford County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,593 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,769 ....
is the USPS address city of Florida State Prison.
FSP is Florida's only prison that is officially named "prison," with the other institutions being named "Correctional Institutions" (or "Correctional Facility" if it is a privately contracted prison).
Notable deceased inmates
- Ted BundyTed BundyTheodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
—executed - John CoueyJohn CoueyJohn Evander Couey was an American sex offender convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering nine-year old Jessica Lunsford in February 2005, in Florida. Lunsford's disappearance and Couey's subsequent confession and trial received extensive media coverage...
—died in prison before execution could be carried out - Paul Jennings HillPaul Jennings HillPaul Jennings Hill was the first person in the United States to be executed for murdering a doctor who performed abortions.-Early life:...
—executed - Danny RollingDanny RollingDaniel Harold Rolling , also known as The Gainesville Ripper, was an American serial killer who murdered five students in Gainesville, Florida. Rolling later confessed to raping several of his victims, committing an additional 1989 triple homicide in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attempting to murder...
—executed - Gerard John SchaeferGerard John SchaeferGerard John Schaefer was an American serial killer from Florida. He was imprisoned in 1973 for murders he committed as a Martin County, Florida Sheriff's deputy....
—murdered by another prisoner - John Spenkelink—executed
- Ottis TooleOttis TooleOttis Elwood Toole was an American serial killer, arsonist and cannibal. Toole was an accomplice of convicted serial killer Henry Lee Lucas...
—died in prison - Aileen WuornosAileen WuornosAileen Carol Wuornos was an American serial killer who killed seven men in Florida in 1989 and 1990, claiming they raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute...
—executed - Martin GrossmanMartin GrossmanMartin Edward Grossman was convicted of first degree murder for his part in the December 13, 1984, Florida killing of wildlife officer Peggy Park. He was executed by lethal injection...
—executed - Oba ChandlerOba ChandlerOba Chandler was an American convicted rapist and murderer who was put to death via lethal injection for the June 1989 triple murders of a woman and her two daughters whose bodies were found in Tampa Bay, Florida. All three were discovered floating with their hands and feet bound, concrete blocks...
—executed on November 15, 2011.
In popular culture
Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
's song "Four Walls of Raiford" tells the story of a convict who escapes from the Florida State Prison.
External links
- Florida State Prison—Florida Department of CorrectionsFlorida Department of CorrectionsThe Florida Department of Corrections, established in 1821, operates state prisons in Florida. It has its headquarters in Tallahassee.The Florida Department of Corrections operates the third largest state prison system in the United States...