A female prisoner in a correctional facility in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually assaulted by a transgender inmate with male anatomy. The lawsuit also accuses the state’s department of corrections of failing to take appropriate actions to protect female prisoners. The incident is said to have taken place at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in September and October of last year.
According to the legal claim, the complainant was not adequately protected by the prison staff, and there were sexually aggressive inmates among the transgender population. The lawsuit states that complaints had been made about the harassing behavior of transgender individuals, many of whom possess fully functioning male anatomy.
The ongoing litigation has not been commented on by the prison or the state’s department of corrections. However, the alleged perpetrator, who identifies as a transgender female, has been transferred to a male facility, according to local media reports.
The lawsuit also alleges that the New Jersey Department of Corrections disregarded safety standards regarding the inmate population. It claims that two female inmates became pregnant as a result of sexual interactions with transgender individuals. Additionally, female inmates were reportedly frequently housed in areas with transgender prisoners without proper monitoring through security cameras.
In a separate legal claim, another inmate at the Mahan Correctional Facility has accused a male prison guard of non-consensual sexual activity in August 2021. The claim states that the guard led the female prisoner to a secluded area and demanded sexual acts from her. The inmate was allegedly threatened that her time in prison would be difficult if she did not comply. The guard was subsequently transferred to another facility.
These allegations come after a report by the United States Department of Justice in April 2020, which revealed a long history of sexual misconduct at the prison. The report described repeated instances of sexual abuse that had been ongoing for decades, with some inmates forced to trade sex for basic necessities like toilet paper. As a result of the report, 31 correctional staff members were suspended.
In response to the ongoing issues at the facility, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced in February that the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility would be closed. However, it is unclear when the process of relocating inmates to other facilities will be completed.
Overall, the lawsuit highlights alleged failures in ensuring the safety and well-being of female prisoners in New Jersey. The legal claims raise concerns regarding the mixing of transgender inmates with the female population, the inadequate protection provided by prison staff, and the documented history of sexual misconduct at the facility. The ongoing litigation will determine the outcome of these allegations and may lead to changes in policies and practices within the state’s correctional system.
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