CLOSED-CIRCUIT
CHAOS
Florida makes surveillance videos from inside its mental hospitals secret. Here’s what it won’t let you see.
Over the past five years, Florida stripped millions of dollars from its mental institutions and fired a third of their workforce. These videos, taken by hospital security cameras, are evidence of what happened: violence spiked as patients got less supervision and counseling. Citing public records law, the Times/Herald-Tribune asked law-enforcement agencies across the state for any video gathered during criminal investigations. Only two agencies agreed to provide copies.
Warning: These videos contain scenes of extreme violence and, in some cases, death. They may not be suitable for all viewers.
1. Oct. 20, 2012: North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center
An orderly is left alone with 27 mental patients on the ward.
2. Aug. 13, 2010: North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center
Help is so far away this attack goes on for more than 2 minutes before staff can respond. The patient survived after an emergency room visit that left the state with a $60,000 bill.
3. Sept. 19, 2013: North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center
This patient beat a worker so badly she now uses a cane to walk.
4. Feb. 17, 2015: Florida State Hospital
Hospital workers did not separate these feuding patients. Then this happened. The patient later died from his injuries.
5. Sept. 3, 2010: Florida State Hospital
A worker drags an elderly patient to her room.
6. July 31, 2010: North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center
To stop a fight, a worker throws a patient head-first into a wall. For hours no one called 911. The patient later died from his head injury.
7. Oct. 26, 2009: North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center
A patient turns on the staff members who tried to break up a fight.
