All Florida Prisons On Lockdown After Security Threats

All Florida prisons are being placed on a partial lockdown after unidentified threats from potential uprisings were brewing, according to the Miami Herald. This lockdown affects Florida's 148 prisons, which currently hold 97,000 inmates.

The possible uprisings were reported in connection to a march for prisoners’ rights being held Saturday in Washington, D.C. The Millions for Prisoners Human Rights March is set to bring human rights advocates to the nation's capital to help end the legalized practice of prison slavery and mass incarceration.

Ashley Cook, a press secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections, issued a statement to International Business Times Thursday about the lockdown.

"The Florida Department of Corrections foremost responsibility is to ensure the safety of Florida communities, staff and inmates," Cook told IBT. "In response to credible intelligence indicating that small groups of inmates at several institutions may attempt to disrupt FDC operations and impact safety and security, FDC has taken steps to enhance the security of its institutions across the state this weekend."

Cook did not provide further details of the reported disturbances, but she confirmed that "these measures were taken out of an abundance of caution, and we look forward to resuming visitation as soon as possible."

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) confirmed the news just one day after it announced Thursday a cancellation of visitations through a press release published to its website.

"In response to credible intelligence indicating that small groups of inmates at several institutions may attempt to disrupt FDC operations and impact safety and security, FDC has, in an abundance of caution and in the best interest of staff, inmate and public safety, cancelled all visitation statewide," the statement read. "FDC looks forward to resuming normal visitation as soon as possible. This cancellation does not apply to work release centers."

This will be the second weekend in a row where visitation is cancelled for Jackson Correctional Institution in Malone, Florida. No reason had been confirmed by the FDC of the cancellation, but an advisory note was published on its website. The FDC also noted that the "cancelation includes Jackson Work Camp and Graceville Work Camp."

Three other prison facilities also canceled weekend visitations that occur once in July and August, according to The Washinton Post.

During the lockdown, education and recreation activities will be halted. However, inmates will still be allowed to enter meal halls, day rooms and rooms designated for making telephone calls.

The United States reportedly has the largest prison population worldwide, with PrisonStudies.com reporting more than 2 million inmates are currently incarcerated. According to a July report from U.S. News & World Report, Florida received the tenth slot on the publication's list of states with the highest incarceration rates.

Florida reportedly has the third-largest prison system behind California and Texas.

"We have inmates and officers in facilities that are close to being not habitable," FDC Secretary Julie Jones said in 2015 in a report for the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee that illustrated Florida's bleak prison system.

Follow me on Twitter @dory_jackson