PRISONERS
OF PROFIT
“The purpose of a monitor is
to ensure that the mandates set
down by the state and the rules
in the contract were followed,”
he said. “Two things really stood
out: Staffing was not adequate,
and the kids weren’t eating.
Therefore they were not safe.”
A week after Diab met with
HUFFINGTON
11.03.13
manage/supervise people in such
a manner?”
In the letter calling for Blanton’s termination, his superiors
cited the complaints from Diab
and a complaint from a different
contractor that described Blanton as “confrontational” and “intimidating.” His bosses also cited
“Bottom line, the state of Florida doesn’t
want responsibility for these kids.”
state officials, Blanton’s bosses
removed him as the monitor at
Thompson Academy. He was
fired two months later.
In a series of memos before he
was fired, Blanton asked his superiors why they took the complaints from the company as fact
without also consulting him.
“I have some problems with
your process,” Blanton wrote.
“They are as follows: 1) allegations
are made and taken as truth; 2) as
a DJJ employee, I was never given
the opportunity to meet with my
accuser; 3) you did no investigation or verification of the validity
of the complaint. How does one
“apparent attempts at retaliation” after Blanton told them he
“should not be underestimated”
following his removal from monitoring duties at Thompson.
Blanton was also cited for turning in four facility reports late, and
for leaving the office without signing out, according to the termination documents, which Blanton
shared with The Huffington Post.
Back in the 1990s, Blanton had
run a state facility in Palm Beach
County, where youth had accused
counselors of mistreating them.
He was temporarily reassigned
as local prosecutors investigated, but the state never brought
charges and he was never found
to have violated procedures. This
history was not mentioned as a