Florida School for Boys, Reform school in Marianna, United States.
The Florida School for Boys was a reform institution in Marianna that operated separate facilities for white and Black youths across a campus of nearly 1,400 acres until desegregation in 1966. The cemetery known as Boot Hill contains dozens of unmarked graves discovered through forensic investigations by the University of South Florida between 2012 and 2016.
The facility was established in 1900 as the Florida State Reform School and remained in operation for 111 years. It closed in 2011 following investigations that brought to light mistreatment of youths.
Former students called themselves the White House Boys and formed a group to document their time at the facility. They worked to gain recognition for the mistreatment they experienced there.
The grounds have become a memorial site for victims who died there. Several organizations continue efforts to identify all the deceased and document the full history of the institution.
Research teams found that nearly 100 youths died during operations, far more than official records indicated. This discrepancy led to nationwide discussions about conditions in juvenile facilities and the need for better oversight.
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