“A ‘culture of acceptance’ of sexual abuse has persisted for many years and continues to the present,” a federal investigation found.
for women have been sexually abused for years by staff who created a disturbing “culture of acceptance” that ignored past known violations and complaints.
If a prisoner reports allegations of sexual abuse, they undergo a physical examination while in handcuffs and shackles, are strip-searched and then moved to the maximum-security compound where they are held for up to 72 hours in solitary confinement until they are interviewed. They are then likely to be moved from their unit or their job instead of the alleged abuser being moved away from them, which the NJDOC has the authority to do.
From October 2016 to November 2019, five Edna Mahan correction officers and one civilian employee were convicted or pleaded guilty to charges related to sexual abuse of more than 10 women under their watch. A sixth has been indicted for charges related to sexual abuse of prisoners. These arrests and convictions began to take place a full year after the New Jersey Department of Corrections was notified of the DOJ’s investigation, the DOJ said.
“The incidents of sexual abuse follow similar patterns where officers and staff sexually assault and harass women who are vulnerable to sexual abuse and fear retaliation, violence, deprivation of privileges, or endure sexual abuse in exchange for food, medication, or contraband, in violation of the prisoners’ constitutional rights,” the report states.
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