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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 15h

Holding people with mental illness in jail without therapy or medication is inhumane. With the right treatment, many people can stabilize. Instead, they wait for months in jails not equipped to help them. Support our case against these delays at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 05/10/2026

Frank Angones arrived alone in Miami from Cuba in 1961. Decades later, he became the first Cuban-born president of The Florida Bar. Angones increased diversity among Florida attorneys, provided legal services for people who could not afford them, and organized attorneys around human rights cases.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 03/10/2026

FCARE is hosting a sleepout today in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness, and FJI will be there during the rally to support. Join us and our partners at FCARE at Lummus Park in Miami Beach at 2pm to build that support.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 01/10/2026

Miami turns 130 this year, and the fight over who gets to call this city home continues. FJI's Michael Langley will join South Florida People of Color and Power for Good Consulting on Friday for a conversation about who belongs here and where we go next. Tickets at eventbrite.com/e/keeping-it...

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 30/09/2026

Mario P. Goderich had already practiced law in Cuba when he arrived in Miami, but his credentials did not transfer. So he earned a law degree, joined The Florida Bar, and helped found CABA. He became the first Cuban American to sit on the Eleventh Circuit bench and Third District Court of Appeal.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 29/09/2026

Betsy Pizzo's son Phillip has schizophrenia. He spent 117 days in a county jail, much of it in an isolation cell, while his mental health kept getting worse. It's why FJI is a part of a case suing the state over these delays. Follow so we can keep you updated.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 28/09/2026

Give Miami Day returns on Thursday, November 19, and early giving opens November 14. Your support is what makes things like the Tristin Murphy Act, class action settlements, and camping ban repeals possible. Follow so you know the moment our Give Miami Day page goes live.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 28/09/2026

Lucas Benitez was a teenager when he left Mexico for Immokalee, Florida, and started working in the tomato fields. Benitez co-founded the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a worker-led human rights group that continues to change conditions in the fields through the Fair Food Program.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 24/09/2026

Our colleagues at Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell just won a permanent injunction that requires Texas to air condition its prisons by 2030. This case mirrors our own fight in Florida, where people at Dade Correctional Institution face deadly heat. See the press release at wtotrial.com/wto-wins-lan...

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 24/09/2026

Evelio Grillo was born in Ybor City in 1919 to Black Cuban cigar workers, grew up in segregated Tampa, and served in a segregated Army unit during World War II. Grillo went on to organize in Oakland, bringing Black and Latino communities together across lines the system drew between them.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 23/09/2026

Florida law gives the state 15 days to move a person found incompetent to stand trial out of a county jail and into treatment. Our lawsuit says the wait runs four to six months instead, and the case is gaining media attention. Follow to stay updated as this case continues.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 22/09/2026

Osvaldo N. Soto came to South Florida as a Cuban exile and used the law to fight discrimination. He co-founded SALAD, challenged Miami-Dade's English-only ordinance, and was a founding member of CABA. His career reflects something we believe at FJI: the justice system has to belong to everyone.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 21/09/2026

California data showed that nearly half of all people in jail waiting for mental health treatment were unhoused. FJI is litigating Florida's transfer delays right now, but the long-term fix must come from housing and community care. Read the full article at madinamerica.com/2026/07/how-...

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 20/09/2026

Happy birthday to Carly Carrillo, one of the paralegals who keeps our cases and our office moving. Carly, thank you for your hard work and the positive energy you bring every day. Join us in wishing her a wonderful birthday in the comments!

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 19/09/2026

Rod started the Florida Justice Institute in 1978 on the belief that civil rights do not end when someone loses their freedom, housing, or access. That belief still drives our work today. Join us in wishing Rod a happy birthday, and learn more about our history at fji.law

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 18/09/2026

We are happy to welcome Simone Schafer to FJI as a fall clerk. Simone is a law student at U Miami with a focus on civil rights, justice reform, and litigation. Simone spent her 1L summer at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office handling research, advocacy, and trial preparation. Welcome, Simone!

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 17/09/2026

Headed to the Florida Policy Summit today? FJI Executive Director Michael Langley will be on the panel for "Moving Away From the Old Ways: How Florida Can Adopt Better Practices to Public Safety." The session starts at 2:40pm. Follow so you stay connected with all of our events.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 16/09/2026

Florida has 15 days to move a person experiencing mental illness, and unable to stand trial, out of a county jail and into treatment. A lawsuit filed today says the real wait averages at least 124 days. Read the full report at cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-mental-health-jail-treatment-lawsuit

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 16/09/2026

Congratulations to FJI Board Member Rayna Milfort, who was honored at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce's 6th Annual Badass Women of the Year Awards. The award is well earned, and we are lucky to have Rayna on our board. Learn more about the people behind FJI at FJI.law

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 15/09/2026

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, we're honoring Alicia Baró. Born in Puerto Rico and rooted in Miami, she spent decades pushing for the rights of Hispanic people, women, and migrant workers after seeing how badly they were treated. Follow for more highlights of Latiné leaders this month.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 14/09/2026

In January 2025, more than 745,000 people in this country had nowhere to call home. FJI takes on the laws that punish people for being unhoused and uplifts the communities investing in real housing solutions. Follow to see how.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 11/09/2026

Officers at Santa Rosa Correctional beat Jason Baez. Florida settled his civil rights case for $60,000, then took it. A federal judge ruled that seizing a federal civil rights settlement this way violates federal law. FJI represented Jason alongside the SPLC, full press release at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 10/09/2026

We hold our Signature Event in April for a reason. April is National Second Chance Month, when we recognize the barriers people face after coming home from prison. This event honors the people and orgs tearing those barriers down. Mark your calendar and follow so you know when registration opens.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 09/09/2026

Congress is looking at heat in prisons, a proposed bill would force state prisons to install HVAC. That bill does nothing for Dade Correctional Institution, where people face the summer with no air conditioning. We will keep fighting for AC in state prisons. Follow our case at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 08/09/2026

In June, commissioners finally voted to open the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery, built to treat people with mental illness and addiction instead of putting them behind bars. It's still not open, and Miami needs it now. Read more at wlrn.org/2026-07-13/m...

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 07/09/2026

Not all workers get the protections that Labor Day commemorates. FJI fights better working conditions inside, and groups like Beyond the Bars work to win fair pay and protections once they’re out. Learn more at linkin.bio/fji and beyondthebars.org

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 05/09/2026

Happy birthday to FJI's Executive Director, Michael Langley. We are grateful for Michael’s passion and leadership, which helps drive our mission forward. Join us in wishing Michael a happy birthday!

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 03/09/2026

The unhoused face the same storm conditions as homeowners with none of the options. FJI fights the laws that criminalize people for having nowhere to go, and we push for the housing and resources that would actually keep people safe. See how we do that at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 02/09/2026

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Florida's prisons belong in this conversation. People with serious mental illness end up in cells instead of treatment, often in isolation, and isolation makes the illness worse. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 01/09/2026

Happy birthday to Jessica Pla, our Director of Operations. Jessica’s exceptional leadership has been an undeniable asset to our team. Thank you for balancing the books, guiding our growth, and leading our team with integrity and excellence. Happy Birthday Jessica!

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 25/08/2026

The Marshall Project highlights FJI's lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections as one of the cases shaping the story nationally. We will continue fighting in Florida and serving as a model for others to do the same. Learn more about our case at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 24/08/2026

Mayor Eileen Higgins had the chance to veto the City Commission's changes to the encampment ban. She did not. Police in Miami can now more easily arrest someone for sleeping in public. FJI will keep fighting these kinds of laws. See the full government spending report at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 21/08/2026

Orlando is spending $60 million on housing instead of handcuffs. The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida is building a new Center for Women and Families that adds 112 beds, a health clinic, childcare, and bridge housing. See how they’re doing it at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 20/08/2026

Five women at Lowell Correctional Institution accused a prison gynecologist of assault during medical appointments. He worked for Centurion of Florida, the contractor the state pays to provide health care in its prisons. Read the full Tampa Bay Times report at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 19/08/2026

Rent for a two bedroom in Miami jumped roughly 60 percent in five years while median household income grew by only a third. The cost of living is what pushes people into homelessness, and Miami answers the crisis with jail time. Read the full report at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 17/08/2026

We want to be clear about what your support funds: Donations pay for the investigations inside Florida prisons. They cover the case work that connect people to a lawyer. They also fund impact litigation so one case can change conditions for thousands of people at once. Donate at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 17/08/2026

Erica Downs is back at FJI today, and today is her work anniversary as well. Erica is one of the attorneys behind our case against the FDC and Centurion, where people waited years for eye surgery. That work matters, and we are glad to have her back in action. Welcome back Erica!

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 14/08/2026

FJI and our co-counsels from Bilzin Sumberg spent this week in Federal Court for the Wilson extreme heat case class certification. Learn more about the case at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 14/08/2026

Benjamin embodied the traits that make Summer Clerks successful at FJI: patience and poise. Thank you for all your contributions this summer, and best of luck as you start your graduate program at the Paris School of International Affairs. Learn more about our team at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 13/08/2026

A minimum wage worker in Florida would need to work 108 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment. At the same time, the state continues to pass and enforce laws that punish people for being unable to afford a place to live. Read the full "Out of Reach" report at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 12/08/2026

From murals to movements, artists use their platforms to challenge systems and demand change. That is the message FJI wanted our summer clerks to carry with them. Thank you to our summer clerks for their dedication. We are proud of the work they contributed and excited to see where they go next.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 11/08/2026

Housing is slipping further out of reach for those who need it most. When housing becomes a luxury, people end up on the streets. That's a crisis FJI fights every day through litigation and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness. See how we fight for housing access at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 09/08/2026

Happy work anniversary to Dante Trevisani, FJI's Litigation Director. Dante leads our cases challenging inhumane conditions in Florida prisons and fights for people the system tries to ignore. Thank you for everything you do, Dante! Learn more about our team at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 07/08/2026

BREAKING NEWS: A federal court just ruled that Florida’s prison system broke the law when it seized Jason Baez’s civil rights settlement. FJI and the Southern Poverty Law Center worked together to win this court order. Read the full press release at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 07/08/2026

Lotus House serves thousands of unhoused families. In 2025, 80% of the women and children served reported being a victim of a crime or experiencing trauma. These families don't need handcuffs. They need safety and support. Visit the Lotus House website at the link in bio to learn more.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 06/08/2026

FJI's paralegals handle the work that makes every case possible, from client intake to trial prep. They also assist our clients, often going beyond their job description to help them when they need it most. Happy National Paralegal Day to Bethell, Michelle, and Carly!

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 05/08/2026

Give Miami Day is Thursday, November 19th. Every dollar helps us keep fighting for people in prison, people without a home, and people with disabilities across Florida. Mark your calendar and follow so you know when we get started.

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 04/08/2026

When measured, the heat index in Dade CI stayed above the safety threshold 97 percent of the time, with peaks near 120 degrees. We are fighting to force the state to keep prisons livable and end conditions that have already contributed to fatalities. Support this fight at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 03/08/2026

Most prisons in the state have people locked in cells with no cooling and nowhere to escape the heat. Some regularly exceed 100 degrees during the summer. FJI is in court right now fighting to change that. Support our litigation directly at linkin.bio/fji

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Florida Justice Institute @fji.law · 31/07/2026

Thank you to our summer clerks, Kadia Mohammed and Kourteney Salmon. Their talent, energy, and dedication defined what it means to be part of FJl's team. We wish them the best on their next steps and can't wait to see the impact they make. Learn more about our team at linkin.bio/fji

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