TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Prison officials in Florida cited a security threat in canceling visitation at all of its 149 facilities.
In a statement released Wednesday, prison officials said the cancellation is in response to "credible intelligence indicating that small groups of inmates at several institutions may attempt to disrupt operations and impact safety and security."
The Orlando Sentinel reports prison officials have canceled visitation at the Jackson Correctional Institution in Florida's Panhandle for the last two weekends. Three other prisons have also had visitation canceled for one weekend in July and August.
Officials declined to answer additional questions about the cancellation.
This statement was posted by the department on its website:
The Florida Department of Corrections announced the cancellation of weekend visitation at all Institutions for Saturday, August 19, and Sunday, August 20. This cancellation includes all major institutions, work camps and annex facilities.
In response to credible intelligence indicating that small groups of inmates at several institutions may attempt to disrupt FDC operations and impact safety and security, FDC has, in an abundance of caution and in the best interest of staff, inmate and public safety, cancelled all visitation statewide. FDC looks forward to resuming normal visitation as soon as possible.
This cancellation does not apply to work release centers.
Family reunification & visitation a top priority, FDC visitation cancellation is for potential impact to safety: https://t.co/7bfkQPLfL9
— FL Dept. Corrections (@FL_Corrections) August 17, 2017
