“I am a policy maker tasked with evaluating ethical failures in corrections.”
Šmykľavka: 3
In 2020, the DOJ found systemic sexual abuse, coercion, and retaliation at Lowell Prison in Florida. Few officers were disciplined despite hundreds of reports.
Šmykľavka: 4
“You better keep quiet.”
Šmykľavka: 5
“No one will believe me… reporting is dangerous.”
Šmykľavka: 6
“Close that complaint. We’ll handle it internally.”
Šmykľavka: 7
Ethics in Action: The Lowell Prison Abuse ScandalA Digital Ethics Storyboard by Kirstin Eades
“We aren’t safe here.”
Trauma, fear, and mistrust shaped daily life for women at Lowell.
Šmykľavka: 8
My role is to review misconduct and recommend reforms.
“If I speak out, I’ll be targeted.”
Ethical staff were silenced by retaliation and fear.
Šmykľavka: 9
Connections to Four Chapters:• Law Enforcement: Misuse of power and authority• Courts: Failure to report blocks investigations• Corrections: Breakdown of duty to protect• Policy: Oversight failures enabled abuse
Šmykľavka: 10
Officers abused their authority to control and intimidate incarcerated women.Kantian Ethics: They were treated as objects, not people.
“People lie about us all the time.”
“Our complaints were ignored for years.”
Officers claim stress and false allegations, but evidence shows systemic abuse.
Šmykľavka: 11
Legitimate complaints were ignored or punished.Ethics of Care: Duty to protect the vulnerable was abandoned.
“This is more than misconduct… it’s a systemic ethical failure.”
Ethical theories show deeper problems in culture and oversight.