JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Hundreds of victims of the Dozier School for Boys have been approved for compensation according to the Florida Attorney General’s Office and one local victim just learned he’d been approved Wednesday.
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Charles Deas Jr, who attended the infamous state-run Dozier School for Boys from 1966 to 1968, sent in his application for compensation from the state in October of last year.
“I think I was one of the first ones that submitted the application,” said Charles.
Over the past two years, Action News Jax has worked to help Charles through the application process.
He had to obtain his school records and a notarized personal account of the abuse he suffered while attending the now-shuttered reform school.
During its 111 years in operation, accusations of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of school staff were rampant at Dozier.
In 2015, the remains of more than 50 boys were unearthed on the school grounds.
Charles told us writing the personal testimony recounting his time at Dozier was difficult.
“Cause you remember some stuff that you want to forget. You know, you want to forget a lot of stuff, but then you can’t,” said Charles.
Victims successfully fought for an apology from the Florida Legislature in 2017 and the $20 million compensation fund, which was approved last year.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, a total of 930 applications for compensation had been submitted as of last Thursday.
764 had been approved.
“I’m really looking at this process to be wrapped up in the next 60 days for our survivors,” said State Senator Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville).
Davis helped lead the charge for the compensation bill during the 2024 legislative session.
Based on stats provided by the AG’s Office, each victim could receive anywhere from $21,000 to $26,000, depending on how many applications are ultimately approved.
“We can’t erase what happened or what they went through, but to know that any dollar amount that the state is giving these survivors is something significant for them and their families,” said Davis.
When Action News Jax spoke with Charles Wednesday morning, he hadn’t learned if his application had been approved or not yet.
Just a few hours after we left his residence we got a call.
It was Charles, who told us he’d found his approval letter, which had been misplaced in a stack of mail.
After waiting 60 years for some form of justice, Charles may still have a bit longer to wait.
Still, he said he’s thankful all the same.
“Whatever I can get is a blessing,” said Charles. ”You know, I can use that to pay some bills and help some family out too.”
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