WFTS - Tampa, Florida
1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays
Watch Now
Watch Now
1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays
WFTS - Tampa, Florida
Watch Now
Watch Now
Close x
Live Watch
Alerts
  • ABC Action News Gives
  • Video
    • Latest Video
    • Watch ABC Action News+
    • Watch Live Breaking News
  • News
    • Local News
    • ABC Action News Anchors Report
    • Florida
    • National
    • Links Mentioned on ABC Action News
    • Good Morning Tampa Bay
    • Full Circle
    • Full Circle Florida
    • Recalls
    • Driving Tampa Bay Forward
    • Positively Tampa Bay
    • Two Americas
  • Weather
    • ABC Action Weather 24/7
    • Radar
    • Severe Weather Alerts
    • Hurricane Center
    • Daily Forecast
    • Hourly Forecast
    • Maps & Forecasts
  • Investigations
    • I-Team Investigations
    • Crisis in Corrections
    • State of Hate
    • The Price of Protection
    • Car Fires: Up in Flames
    • Consumer Problems
  • Taking Action
    • Taking Action Against Domestic Violence
    • Family Focus
  • Tampa Bay Traffic
    • Traffic Cams
    • Traffic News
    • Gas Prices
  • Sports
    • Buccaneers
    • Lightning
    • Rays
  • Price of Paradise
  • Good Morning Tampa Bay
  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • Tampa Bay's Morning Blend
  • Your Health Matters
    • You Are Not Alone
    • Conquering Addiction
  • Don't Waste Your Money
  • Tampa Bay's Operation Honoring Heroes
  • Tampa Bay's Home Pros
  • Florida Lottery
  • Marketplace
    • Spotlight
  • What's on TV
  • Station Info
    • WFTS - ABC Action News Team
    • Jobs at WFTS
    • Contact
    • Contests
    • Fresh Start
    • Advertise with Us
    • Support
    • Apps
  • Sign In
  • Newsletters
  • Sign Out
  • Manage Emails
  • Apps
  • Careers Search
  • I-Team Investigations
  • Florida Investigative Team
  • State of Hate
  • Crisis in Corrections
  • The Price of Protection
  • Up in Flames
  • Kids Sold for Sex
  • Taking Action for You
1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays
NewsLocal NewsI-Team InvestigationsCrisis in Corrections

Crisis in Corrections: Prison town economies suffer

The Florida Department of Corrections is in crisis, caused by a staffing shortage that has led to prisons closing. The ABC Action News I-Team uncovered how those closures are already having a negative economic impact on Florida’s small towns.

Prison town economies suffer Photo by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer A store is closed in Cross City, Florida after a local prison shut down.Photo by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Cross City is the county seat of Dixie County in North Florida, which has 17,000 residents. The prison is the county's largest employer and the poverty rate is double state and national averages.Photo by: WFTS Prison town economies Triston Weaver has lived in Cross City all his life. His mother works for the prison, but he has chosen a different path as a Dixie County Sheriff's Deputy.Photo by: WFTS Prison town economies One of many older homes in disrepair in the Cross City community, where the prison that recently shut two of three facilities is the main driver of the economyPhoto by: WFTS Prison town economies The gates to the main prison unit at Cross City Correctional Institution is closed, due to flooding last year and a statewide prison staffing shortagePhoto by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Photo by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Razor wire outside gate of closed prison facilityPhoto by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Cross City Water TowerPhoto by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Cross City, Florida barbershopPhoto by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Haircuts cost $10, but fewer people are getting haircuts these days, since not as many people are working in Cross City.Photo by: WFTS Prison town economies suffer Cross City Correctional Institution sign in Cross City, Fla.Photo by: WFTS
WFTS - Tampa, Florida

Crisis in Corrections: Prison town economies suffer

close-gallery
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies
  • Prison town economies
  • Prison town economies
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer
  • Prison town economies suffer

Share

  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Email
WFTS
A store is closed in Cross City, Florida after a local prison shut down.WFTS
Cross City is the county seat of Dixie County in North Florida, which has 17,000 residents. The prison is the county's largest employer and the poverty rate is double state and national averages.WFTS
Triston Weaver has lived in Cross City all his life. His mother works for the prison, but he has chosen a different path as a Dixie County Sheriff's Deputy.WFTS
One of many older homes in disrepair in the Cross City community, where the prison that recently shut two of three facilities is the main driver of the economyWFTS
The gates to the main prison unit at Cross City Correctional Institution is closed, due to flooding last year and a statewide prison staffing shortageWFTS
WFTS
Razor wire outside gate of closed prison facilityWFTS
Cross City Water TowerWFTS
Cross City, Florida barbershopWFTS
Haircuts cost $10, but fewer people are getting haircuts these days, since not as many people are working in Cross City.WFTS
Cross City Correctional Institution sign in Cross City, Fla.WFTS
Prev
1 / Ad
Next
Prev
1 / Ad
Next
  • News
  • Video
  • Good Morning Tampa Bay
  • Driving Tampa Bay Forward
  • Taking Action for You
  • Support
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Center
  • Journalism Ethics Guidelines
  • Terms of Use
  • EEO
  • Careers
  • FCC Public Files
  • Public File Contact
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Closed Captioning Contact
  • FCC Application

Social

  • tampabaynews
  • abc_action_news
  • abcactionnews/
  • abcactionnews
Scripps Media, Inc
Scripps Local Media
© 2023 Scripps Media, Inc
Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way