Florida State Prison (FSP), otherwise known as Raiford Prison, is a correctional institution located in unincorporated Bradford County, Florida, with a Starke postal address. It was formerly known as the "Florida State Prison-East Unit" as it was originally part of Florida State Prison near Raiford (now known as Union Correctional Institution). The facility, a part of the Florida Department of Corrections, is located on State Road 16 right across the border from Union County. The institution opened in 1961, even though construction was not completed until 1968. With a maximum population of over 1,400 inmates, FSP is one of the largest prisons in the state. FSP houses Florida's one of two male death row cell blocks and the State of Florida execution chamber. Union Correctional Institution also houses male death row inmates while Lowell Annex houses female death row inmates.
Lethal injection became the standard method of execution in 2000. The electric chair can still be used by request of the inmate.
FSP sits in the center of several other prisons. It is surrounded by New River Correctional Institution, New River O-Unit, FSP West Unit, and sits across the river from Union Correctional Institution. Even though Union Correctional Institution is on the same property, immediately north-west of FSP, the county line (with Union County) runs in between the two, which makes Raiford the United States Postal Service address city of Union Correctional Institution, while Starke is the USPS address city of Florida State Prison.
FSP is Florida's only prison that is officially named "prison", with the other institutions being named "Correctional Institutions" (or "Correctional Facility" if it is a privately contracted prison).
Notable inmates
Former
John Ashley (bandit) – Served 17 years for robbery
Cesar Barone – Serial killer; served time for attempting to rape a guard in a previous prison. William Collinsworth, Ollie Stoutamire, Patrick Scarborough, and David Beagles - The four rapists of Betty Jean Owens. Scarborough died there, while two were released (one after committing a murder). James Blake (pianist) Honey Bruce – Stripper who served a year for several thefts. Mark DeFriest – Mark DeFriest, known as the Houdini of Florida, is a prisoner of the United States. In 1980, 19-year-old DeFriest retrieved work tools his recently deceased father had willed him before the will officially went through probate. This act was considered theft despite the fact DeFriest did not have an understanding of probate laws. DeFriest's stepmother called the police, which led to his arrest. DeFriest was sentenced to four years in prison. The original four-year sentence has since developed into 34 years for 13 escape attempts, 7 of them successful, and hundreds of disciplinary reports for minor infractions. In 34 years, he's collectively spent 27 of them in solitary confinement. Bernard Giles – Serial killer; escaped and has been transferred several times. Paul John Knowles – A serial killer and rapist who served time prior to his murders. James Koedatich – Serial killer; sentenced for killing his first victim and later murdered a cellmate; released in 1982. Forrest Lake (politician) – Served 16 months for embezzlement. Charles Nelson – Step-brother of Trapper Nelson convicted of murder Jim Nolan (biker) – Sentenced for narcotic charges. "Clyde "Bo" Pickler – Father of Kellie Pickler; served 45 months for aggravated assault and battery stemming from a 2003 stabbing incident. He was released on May 6, 2006, a week after her elimination from Idol. Charles Ponzi – A con artist and swindler who served a year for security and released on $1,500 bond. Edward Surratt – Murderer and possible serial killer; transferred. Richard Wershe Jr. – Drug trafficker who served time for car theft ring charges. Purvis Young – Artist who served three years for breaking and entering.
In custody
John Connolly, former FBI agent convicted for ties to Whitey Bulger. Dontae Morris – Serial killer Phillup Partin, convicted for the murder of 16-year-old hitchhiker Joshan Ashbrook. Daniel Lugo, convicted of murdering a couple. His story is the basis for the 2013 blockbuster Pain & Gain. Mark Sievers, orchestrated the murder of his wife Teresa Sievers in Bonita Springs. His co-conspirators, Jimmy Ray Rodgers and Curtis Wayne Wright, were also charged. Wright took a plea deal of 25 years for second degree murder for testimony at the other trials. Rodgers was sentenced to life without parole and Sievers was given the death penalty.