Prisoners vs State Over Settlements | Tampa News

A Florida inmate, Jason Baez, won a $60,000 settlement after officers brutally beat him—losing an eye—but the state then tried to seize the entire amount plus $500K more, citing its “pay-to-stay” law that charges inmates $50/day. Critics argue this law is unconstitutional when applied to civil rights settlements, and lawyers say the DOC routinely targets inmates who sue. A federal judge recently ruled the law can’t be used to take Baez’s money—but the state had already seized it. This case challenges whether settlements can truly compensate victims and deter abuse, sparking a broader legal fight as the Southern Poverty Law Center seeks to help other inmates facing similar seizures. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/cb7a5e60433d279a