Miami jail system under fire again after kidnapper accidentally freed
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A view of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Photo: Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images
A convicted kidnapper mistakenly released from a Miami jail due to a "procedural error" was caught this week in Georgia after a three-day manhunt.
Why it matters: The accidental release of James Edward Daniels — who had been serving a life sentence for a 2020 kidnapping that killed two men — is another black eye for Miami-Dade County jails.
- Until this summer, Miami-Dade Corrections had been under federal oversight since 2013 after the Department of Justice alleged the jail system provided inadequate mental health care for inmates.
State of play: After Daniels was sentenced in March to life in prison, the federal inmate was transferred to Miami's Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center last week to settle a separate drug case, multiple outlets reported.
- A judge there convicted him of cocaine possession and driving under the influence, according to the Miami Herald.
- The judge let him off with "time served," deciding not to add any more prison time since Daniels was already serving a life sentence, the Herald reported.
Despite a "detainer" order to return Daniels to federal custody, the jail set him free last Saturday, according to the outlet.
Threat level: The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, which offered a $30,000 reward for his capture, warned the public that Daniels should be considered "armed and dangerous."
- Daniels, 60, had been convicted for his role in the kidnapping of three men, who prosecutors say were tortured and shot by Daniels and his accomplices. Two of the victims died.
The latest: He was captured in Georgia on Wednesday.
What they're saying: "This is a pretty big mess up," Daniels' previous attorney Evan Hoffman told the Herald.
- "Just pure negligence," retired Miami-Dade police officer and security consultant Wayne Black told Local 10.
- In a statement, Miami-Dade Corrections said it is investigating the incident and will make sure "those responsible for failing to follow policy are held accountable."
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who oversees the jail system, told Axios in a statement that the department is reviewing what happened to avoid a repeat incident.
- "The safety of our residents is always my highest priority, and I understand the concern this incident has caused."
She told Local 10 that "there's human error that does occur from time to time, but obviously not acceptable so we're continuing to make sure that we can avoid any mistakes in the future."