TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida House Democrats are calling for sweeping prison reform in the wake of a federal finding that treatment of inmates at one state institution has likely run afoul of the Constitution's Eighth Amendment prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment.

The facility, Lowell Correctional Institution near Ocala, is the nation's largest women's prison. A scathing 34-page report released last month by the Justice Department detailed a laundry list of misconduct, including guards groping inmates, bribing them with contraband, and coercing them into abusive sexual relationships.

Meeting virtually this week, a coalition of House Democrats said the report should be the catalyst that prompts action after years of dismissed abuse complaints and attempts at internal reform by the Florida Department of Corrections. The Justice Department is calling on the state to rectify the issues raised in its report.

"It needs to stop. It needs to stop now," Rep. Anika Omphroy (D-Sunrise) demanded.

The lawmakers said they intended to file legislation that would create a citizens' oversight committee with the goal of bringing more accountability to the Corrections Department and its internal inspector general.

Multiple audits have found the department, responsible for nearly 100,000 inmates, is underfunded and understaffed. Attempts to increase funding, however, are likely to face a significant hurdle in the form of a projected pandemic-related state revenue shortfall.

Money notwithstanding, the lawmakers suggested that shuffling staffing is in order — particularly at Lowell, where guards are overwhelmingly male. A change of culture is warranted, too, they said.

"We have some issues, even with some of our women," Rep. Dianne Hart (D-Tampa) said. "Our women don't even treat our inmates with dignity and respect, many of them don't. So, just having a full women's staff will not fix it."