Inmates at a state prison in Florida have were allegedly stripped naked , sprayed with toxic chemicals , and had their beds taken away for little or no reason as part of a brutal disciplinary regime . Prisoners at the Northwest Florida Reception Center , near Panama City , were reportedly beaten and even threatened with having their fingers broken while other guards manipulated surveillance cameras to perpetuate the harsh system which they called 'the program ' . According to allegations from prisoners and former guards , the perpetrators and their superiors engineered a conspiracy of silence around the shocking practices , which meant that any concerns raised were swept away . 'Brutality ' : Central to the harsh allegations is corrections officer Captain James Kirkland , left , who was reportedly a prolific user of chemicals on inmates . Rommell Johnson , right , was an asthmatic prison who died after he had pepper spray used on him . Meanwhile , they claim , those who voice concerns were harassed , mocked and even fired as a consequence of trying to speak out . The allegations about Northwest Florida , which have prompted several investigations and lawsuits , were collated and published in a long report by the Miami Herald . In the most extreme circumstances , a prisoner even died during one of the apparently routine 'gassings ' . Rommell Johnson , an asthmatic inmate , was blasted with burning pepper spray in June 2010 despite having been treated for his condition that same morning . The Herald reported that officers then left him laying in his cell , while he foamed at the mouth . By the time they called paramedics , it was too late and he soon died . Prison complex : The alleged abuse took place over years at the Northwest Florida Reception Center , above . Using pepper spray - and in more extreme cases tear gas - is a legal and recognized punishment in the Florida prison system , used to subdue very disruptive inmates . But , according to the reports , use of the dangerous chemicals - which are blasted repeatedly into inmate 's cells through a flap - was taken to extremes at Northwest Florida . The punishment was allegedly used so routinely that corrections officers would fake excuses to use the gas , and in some cases would even fill out paperwork justifying their use of the gas the day before . One officer , Captain James Kirkland , would reportedly gas inmates as punishment if they filed complaints about him . Some said he would lash out for completely irrational reasons , such as seeing inmates holding rubber bands . One prisons officer , Jerry Sellers , said Kirkland accused him of 'cowardice ' for not joining in with a depraved scheme to 'break every finger ' in an inmate 's hand to punish him . Sellers then claims he was forced to resign by a superior . Kirkland , and five other guards , were eventually charged and arrested over abuse at the prisons - but the officer , who was reportedly suffering mental health problems , killed himself before he could stand trial . Prisoners also reported having their mattresses taken away , and going as long as 72 hours with nothing to sleep on but a hard , prison-issue bedframe . The abuse is said to spread over years at the prison . Authorities have since pledged to reform the system and tighten up disciplinary procedures for corrections officers . However , critics say that the heads of the prison service say that until the heads of the prison are gone , the problems will persist . Josh Glickman , a civil rights lawyer representing a prisoner who is suing the authorities , said : 'The individuals actually responsible for the abuse to repeatedly occur and continue are still very much a part of today ’ s Department of Corrections ' .
Prisoners at Northwest Florida Reception Center allegedly mistreated . Guards at facility near Panama City accused of routinely firing pepper spray and tear gas into cells for spurious and vindictive reasons . Miami Herald newspaper collated claims in long investigation . Guards apparently referred to harsh disciplinary scheme as 'the program ' One inmate - Rommel Johnson - died after being pepper sprayed in June 2010 .