A Legacy of Abuse: The Uncovering of Horrors at Dozier
In the panhandle of Florida, there are 31 white crosses outside of a white house, no names, and insufficient crosses for those discovered in recent years. Florida’s School for Boys, better known as Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, was in Marianna, FL. A place to send boys “for their own good” as they were caught smoking, stealing cars, or worse. As this “school” became increasingly crowded, they spent over 4 million dollars and created another campus in the town of Okeechobee, FL. Hoping to bring a brighter future for the troubled youth of Florida.
Physical and Psychological Trauma
Boys were sent to Dozier as “damaged”, as they were leaving, they were left damaged. Boys between the ages of five to 20, were sent there by the state to be reformed. When you speak to these men now, they will tell you stories that will have you wondering if the abuse and trauma they suffered sent them on a path of violence and if the school was a training ground for a life of crime.
Survivors of the school vividly recall the torment they endured at the hands of staff. Shocking incidents of beatings, prolonged solitary confinement, and what they call “boy hunting”. As boys would come and go through the school, oftentimes they would attempt to run for their lives, especially at the Okeechobee campus, where the school is on the edge of town and surrounded by cattle farms and swampy wilderness. Staff would have to go “boy hunting” to bring them back.
Two instances of reported runaways stated one boy perished from the elements, and one met his end with a contested and suspicious break-in. There is one reported runaway that is entirely unaccounted for to this day.
At the main Dozier campus in Marianna, sits the White House. A wooden white building where many of their abuses reportedly happened. Boys would suffer corporal punishment that would inflict lifelong scars on their bodies, and they would wait their turn sitting outside the door and listening to the boys before them suffering the same fate. These distressing memories serve as a reminder of the unimaginable suffering endured by these young men.
A Decades-Long Struggle for Recognition
After 111 years, the school was finally closed in 2011, and the boys who have dubbed themselves the “White House Boys” are coming together to share their stories and recount the horrors they’ve suffered. Throughout the years, the school was investigated, and different laws and rules were placed to help report abuse allegations, but nothing had an impact, like a former student’s story in 2009. At the time of the story, more and more men came forward to tell their stories, but the school failed a state investigation. Then failed a FL Dept of Law enforcement investigation in 2010 and another by the US Dept of Justice in 2011. Leading to the school’s closure in 2011.
House Bill 21: Hope for Survivors
The men who survived the abuse have been coming to Florida’s Capitol for over 16 years, seeking restitution for the suffering they endured at the hands of the State. They may finally see justice with House Bill 21.
In March, the Florida Senate passed a bill to provide $20 million to compensate victims of the Dozier School in Marianna and the Okeechobee campus. Signing the bill into law, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared that the boys who suffered between 1940 and 1975 would receive equitable compensation.
Nothing can truly compensate these men for the suffering they endured as young boys. Still, the Dozier and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program is a step in the right direction for acknowledging the atrocities they endured.
Eligibility for Compensations
If you or a loved one are looking into if you qualify for compensation, here is an excellent place to start:
- Were you confined at the school or campus from 1940-1975?
- Can you request records or provide proof of your confinement?
- Were you a victim of abuse by staff?
The law says that only those who were in the school during that time can receive compensation; personal representatives or relatives do not qualify. Applications will be accepted until December 31st, 2024.
How to Apply for Compensation
Applying for compensation means providing reasonable evidence, including sworn statements, that you were confined in the school or the Okeechobee campus and suffered abuse at the hands of staff. Some good places to start the application process are to:
Call the State of Florida Archives at 850-245-6700 to get any records.
Call the Office of Legal Affairs at the Attorney General’s office to ask questions about the application at 800-226-6667.
This process is expected to be lengthy and complicated. More proof and evidence will be required as more victims step forward to collect their compensation. If you were held at both campuses, that may mean more compensation. Records are unreliable, often covered up, and potentially incomplete. Having a trustworthy legal team will help you navigate this process and allow them to back you up with a strong team of lawyers.
Standing with Survivors on the Path to Healing | Mase Seitz Briggs
Mase Seitz Briggs is a Florida-based team of trial lawyers who are passionate about helping victims of negligence and wrongdoing. With strong and experienced strategies, we maximize our clients' recovery. We are prepared to bring justice to the men who suffered as boys and children. Contact us today to help alleviate some of the stressors associated with your case.