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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Lowell Correctional Institution goer bring a ladder? To take a step in the right direction.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Lowell Annex)

Lowell Correctional Institution
LOWCI overhead view
Map
Interactive map of Lowell Correctional Institution
Location
  • 11120 NW Gainesville Rd
    Ocala, Florida
StatusOperational
Security classMinimum, medium, close, and maximum
Capacity2,610 = 968 (main) + 394 (satellite) + 1,248 (annex)[1][2]
Population2,407 = 698 (main) + 290 (satellite) + 1,419 (annex) (May 2023)
OpenedApril 23, 1956[3]
Former nameFlorida Correctional Institution
Managed byFlorida Department of Corrections
WardenShellie Baker

Lowell Correctional Institution (LOWCI) is a women's prison in Marion County, Florida,[4][5] north of Ocala, in the unincorporated area of Lowell. A part of the Florida Department of Corrections, it serves as the primary prison for women in the state. As of May 2023, 2,407 women were incarcerated in the main facility, work camp, and the Lowell Annex (LOWAN), making it the largest prison for women in the United States;[6] its prison population became larger than that of the Central California Women's Facility in 2019.[7]

LOWCI opened in April 1956 as the Florida Correctional Institution at Lowell[3] and was the first Florida prison for women. It houses community, minimum, medium, and close-custody inmates.[1][2]

Lowell Correctional Institution has a history of alleged inmate abuse, sexual assault, inhumane conditions, and minimal intervention from the Florida State Department of Corrections.[8][9] Inmates have shared their experiences on social media, describing overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and severe illness among some inmates.[6][10]

History

[edit]

Before the women's prison opened, women sentenced to state custody in Florida were held in segregated units at the state prison at Raiford.[11]

Juvenile girls were held separately and along racial lines. The Florida Industrial School for Girls was established by the legislature in 1915 and opened in 1917 on a tract of land near Ocala; it admitted white girls, and in 1929 the legislature appropriated funds for a segregated cottage for Black girls.[12] An expansion of the school known as Forest Hills opened for Black girls on December 1, 1952, on the site that later became part of the Lowell prison complex; in 1953 the legislature appropriated money for the adult portion of the female correctional institution at Lowell. The girls' school, later renamed the McPherson School, closed on December 31, 1984, and Marion County purchased the property in 1986.[13]

Growth

[edit]

The Forest Hills School for Girls, previously belonging to the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, was added to Florida C.I. in 1973.[5] The Levy Forestry Camp was added in 1995 with a primary mission of providing labor for the Division of Forestry.[citation needed] In July 1997, C.A.M.P. Jones was opened as the only "boot camp"- style program for young female offenders in Florida. In 1998, Florida C.I. was combined with Marion C.I., changing the name to Lowell C.I. / Women's Unit. Then in 2000, the prison was renamed Lowell C.I. and began housing youthful pregnant offenders.[5]

At some point the Broward Correctional Institution housed female death row inmates.[14] Lowell Annex opened in April 2002.[15] The female death row was moved to Lowell Annex in February 2003.[16]

In 2009, renovations of Lowell Correctional Institution started. The first phase was completed and (2) 180-bed open bay dormitories were placed online in the Summer of 2009. With the opening of these two dorm, several older dorms were taken out of service. In the Fall of 2009, Phase Two began and several mission changes were put into effect, elderly inmates were moved to climate controlled dormitories at the Lowell Correctional Institution Annex and the primary dormitory where wheelchair-using inmates were housed was demolished to make way for a new food service and canteen buildings. Another mission that has changed in 2009, is Lowell Correctional Institution's housing of Pregnant Inmates. In 2009 the Department of Corrections completed a climate-controlled facility in South Florida to house long term pregnant inmates. Inmates in the final term of their pregnancy will remain housed at Lowell Correctional Institution. There are an additional (2) open bay dorms and (2) secure-cell housing units planned to begin in the final phase of the renovations.

In 2010, the Lowell Correctional Institution Annex completed a (1) 240-bed secure-cell housing unit. This dormitory houses inmates that the department has classified as security risks and require housing in cells instead of dormitory bunks.

In 2012, Lowell Reception Center, was scheduled to be revealed. This stand-alone facility will take over the Reception and Orientation mission from the Annex. Also scheduled to be opened at the Lowell Reception Center is a Crisis Care/Transitional Care Unit that will house inmates that require inpatient mental health treatment.[17] The projected inmate population once these units are complete will be approximately 4000 housed within the 6 units that Lowell Correctional Institution will encompass.[17]

Miami Herald series and abuse allegations

[edit]

In 2015 the Miami Herald announced it was going to publish an investigative series, "Beyond Punishment," on Lowell CI, alleging misconduct. The newspaper published a short video with the same title. The FLDC criticized the newspaper, stating that it had worked with the newspaper previously.[6] It provided a statement in advance to the newspaper.[18]

In 2020 the United States Department of Justice stated that an investigation found that widespread victimization occurred at Lowell.

In August 2019, 52-year-old Cheryl Weimar was viciously beaten by correctional officers in an attack that left her a quadriplegic. She won a settlement for 4.65 million dollars and was granted conditional release. Captain Keith Mitchell Turner was later terminated from employment after being arrested on charges related to molesting two children, but not for his role in the attack. A second officer, Ryan Dionne, was allowed to resign after being implicated in the attack.[9]

Facilities

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Lowell Correctional Institution houses female offenders at all security levels, including juveniles age 14 to 18 and adults. The Lowell Annex, under the supervision of the Lowell Correctional Institution, houses an inmate reception center. It also houses close security and death row inmates.[19]

The Levy Forestry Camp, a forestry work camp located 30 miles (48 km) away in Bronson, was under the supervision of Lowell Correctional Institution until it was defunded and closed in 2012. This camp provided labor for the Florida Division of Forestry, while it was in operation.[20]

Tuberculosis outbreak

[edit]

In July 2005, 3,100 prisoners and 800 staff members were tested at Lowell Correction Institution for tuberculosis. Prison officials confirmed seven cases and no fatalities. State and local officials were unsure how the infection was brought into the facility.[21]

Notable inmates

[edit]

Inmates on Death Row

[edit]
Current
Former
  • Margaret Allen - sentenced to death for torturing and murdering her housekeeper, Wenda Wright. Died on death row in 2024.[38]

See Also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Physical and Mental Health Survey - Lowell Correctional Institution - Main" (PDF). Florida Correctional Medical Authority. June 28, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Physical and Mental Health Survey - Lowell Annex Correctional Institution" (PDF). Florida Correctional Medical Authority. July 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Women Prisoners To Be Transferred To New Lowell Unit". The Florida Times-Union. Ocala. April 22, 1956. p. 24 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Marion County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 16-17/64). Retrieved 2022-08-13. Lowell Correctional Instn
  5. 1 2 3 "Lowell Correctional Institution" (Archive). Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 13, 2015. "11120 NW Gainesville Rd. Ocala, Florida 34482-1479"
  6. 1 2 3 Miami Herald staff. "Department of Corrections criticizes Miami Herald series on Lowell " (Archive). Miami Herald. December 10, 2015. Retrieved on December 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ Brown, Julie K. (December 13, 2015). "Bartered sex, corruption and cover-ups behind bars in nation's largest women's prison]". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  8. ↑ Williams, Gerard S. (June 21, 2026). "A human rights crisis in Florida's prisons". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Farrow, Claire (2020-12-22). "Florida prison failed to protect female inmates from repeated sexual abuse, DOJ says". First Coast News ABC/NBC. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  10. ↑ Hyson, Katie (October 6, 2021). "Her TikTok broadcasts from inside a Florida prison are exposing conditions to millions". WUFT. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Raiford Free of Women". The Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. Associated Press. June 9, 1956. p. 19.
  12. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form - East Hall, aka Florida Industrial School for Girls, McPherson Govt. Complex" (PDF). National Park Service. June 21, 1995.
  13. ↑ "Lowell Correctional Institution -- Fl Dept. of Corrections". www.dc.state.fl.us. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Death Row Fact Sheet." Florida Department of Corrections. February 3, 2001. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Lowell Annex Archived 2010-08-18 at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Broward Correctional Institution Archived 2012-04-14 at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  17. 1 2 Lee, Suevon. "Expanding prisons: 1,335 new beds planned for female inmates in Lowell". Ocala.com.
  18. ↑ "Statement from the Florida Department of Corrections" (Archive). Miami Herald. Retrieved on December 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Florida Correctional Facilities Report No. 19-08" (PDF). Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). Florida State Legislature. October 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Florida DOC To Close Seven Prisons, Four Work Camps". NorthEscambia.com. January 13, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  21. ↑ Dolinski, Catherine. "Women's prison reports outbreak of tuberculosis". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  22. ↑ "Sarah Boone transferred to Florida prison to serve life sentence for boyfriend's suitcase murder". FOX 35 Orlando. December 31, 2024.
  23. ↑ Pohlman, Katie (June 6, 2017). "Woman on death row resentenced to life in prison". The Star Banner. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Photos: The women of Florida death row". Pensacola News Journal. September 2, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Jury recommends life for Tiffany Cole, woman on death row in 2005 killing of Jacksonville couple". Yahoo News. 2023-08-23. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  26. ↑ Effron, Lauren; Berman, Tom; Deutsch, Gail; Smith, Taigi (May 14, 2020). "How Dalia Dippolito is managing prison life and her legal team's hope for a new trial". ABC News. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  27. ↑ Coleman, Jamiya; Montanaro, Julie (July 7, 2026). "'Nothing has happened': Prosecutors deny rumors of reduced sentence deal for Katherine Magbanua in Dan Markel case". WCTV. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  28. ↑ Blackwood, Emily (July 18, 2025). "Where Is Ashley McArthur Now? All About Her Life Behind Bars After She Was Convicted of Murdering Her Friend". People.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-25. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  29. ↑ Nelson, Sara C (July 6, 2017). "How Notorious 'Hiccup Girl' Jennifer Mee Ended Up Jailed For Murder". HuffPost.
  30. ↑ Louallen, Doc (April 18, 2025). "Lottery winner's convicted killer speaks out from behind bars". ABC News.
  31. ↑ Sullivan, Dan (February 9, 2022). "Julie Schenecker, who killed her children, returns to Tampa in pursuit of new trial". Tampa Bay Times.
  32. ↑ Stutzman, Rene (March 30, 2017). "Altamonte Springs teenage murderer resentenced to 40 years". Orlando Sentinel.
  33. ↑ Johnson, Scott (2024-02-24). "Former WWE Hall of Famer 'Sunny' moved to controversial prison in Ocala nearly 3 months after 17 year sentencing". WJXT. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  34. ↑ Balagtas, Tristan (January 28, 2026). "Florida Teen Fatally Stabs Another for Dating Her Boyfriend | A&E". A&E TV.
  35. ↑ "Rachel Wade Sentenced: Teenage Love Triangle Murderer Gets 27 Years for Death of Sarah Ludemann - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2010-09-05. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Tina Brown is Florida's only woman currently on death row". FOX 35 Orlando. May 7, 2025.
  37. ↑ Robinson, Kevin (May 7, 2025). "Tina Brown, convicted of burning woman alive, now only woman on Florida death row". Pensacola News Journal.
  38. ↑ Gallop, J.D. (December 16, 2024). "Titusville woman convicted of beating, strangling former housekeeper, dies on death row". Florida Today.

29°18′49″N 82°12′05″W / 29.31361°N 82.20139°W / 29.31361; -82.20139

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