Bills advanced in both the Florida House of Representatives and Senate on Wednesday that would allow compensation for the victims of the Dozier School for Boys that attended the school between 1940 and 1975.
The Dozier School for Boys was a reform school located in Mariana, Florida, originally opened in 1900. In 1955, the school opened a second campus, known as the Okeechobee campus. From its opening to its eventual shutdown in 2011, the Dozier School was known for its controversial treatment of students and allegations of abuse. As of 2011, there were 81 known cases of students dying while residing at the school. Approximately 50 of the deaths have no known record of burial. Many of the deaths were still being investigated 50 years after they occurred and remain unsolved.
Additionally, the school has faced countless allegations of sexual, verbal and physical abuse from former students. Despite the allegations, the school remained open for many years. Various lawsuits and proposed bills throughout the years have amounted in little to no compensation or justice for the victims.
Surviving students from the school, also referred to as the “White House Boys,” have spoken out publicly about the abuse for many years. The group advocates for the victim compensation as well as reform to prevent the tragedy from ever occurring again.
In September 2023, the Florida Senate introduced a new bill, Senate Bill 24, allowing surviving victims to apply for compensation. The bill unanimously passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Tuesday. The bill needs to pass through one more committee before moving to a full Senate vote.
Similarly, the Florida House of Representatives introduced a nearly identical bill, House Bill 21, in August 2023. The bill was added to the Second Reading Calendar on Wednesday where it may be reviewed further.
If either bill passes through its respective chamber of the legislature, it will be sent to the other chamber to approve, and eventually to the governor for a final signature.
