Disability Rights Florida, an agency serving as the state protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities, has indicated to the “Gazette” that the agency is investigating the Marion County Sheriff’s Office over its treatment of mentally ill prisoners at the county jail.
Aaron Victoria, a senior advocate-investigator for DRF, said he could not share more details because the investigation is active; however, the “Gazette” has made a public records request to the MCSO for all correspondence and reports received from the agency.
In a March 28 email to Heart of Florida, the jail’s medical provider, Victoria wrote: Disability Rights Florida, Inc. (DRF), Florida’s designated Protection and Advocacy system (P&A), has received a report about the death of Mayra I. Ramirez, an individual with mental illness who was an inmate at Marion County Jail at the time of her death on September 7, 2023. Based on the report, DRF has probable cause to believe that Ms. Ramirez was the subject of abuse and/or neglect prior to her death. The letter addresses our authority to request records held by Marion County Jail. The request is covered by the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act, 42 U.S.C. § 10801, et seq.…