Post by COG on Jun 16, 2009 0:03:07 GMT -5
WA to pay $1M in prison sex abuse suit
OLYMPIA – The Washington state Department of Corrections will pay a $1 million settlement to five current and former female prisoners who claimed they were sexually abused by prison guards.
The settlement announced Friday also calls for DOC to take steps to reduce the chances of future sexual misconduct by its staff and to respond more effectively when misconduct occurs
The settlement comes about six weeks before the lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial. While it does take care of the monetary damages, it does not mean an end to the case. That is being delayed until next year, giving the DOC time to take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The DOC says those include add more investigators and provide a victim advocate to female inmates who make sexual abuse claims.
The inmates’ attorneys say, since the suit was filed in July 2007, all but one of the six prison guards named in the suit have resigned or been fired. Others have been convicted.
The guards were accused of numerous sexual acts against inmates including voyeurism, exhibitionism and rape.
Steps the DOC has already taken to prevent future assaults include adding surveillance cameras as well as minimizing uncontrolled access to certain closets and rooms where inmates had allegedly been assaulted.
source: www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_061209WAB-prison-sex-settlement-TP.73e34d5e.html?rss
OLYMPIA – The Washington state Department of Corrections will pay a $1 million settlement to five current and former female prisoners who claimed they were sexually abused by prison guards.
The settlement announced Friday also calls for DOC to take steps to reduce the chances of future sexual misconduct by its staff and to respond more effectively when misconduct occurs
The settlement comes about six weeks before the lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial. While it does take care of the monetary damages, it does not mean an end to the case. That is being delayed until next year, giving the DOC time to take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The DOC says those include add more investigators and provide a victim advocate to female inmates who make sexual abuse claims.
The inmates’ attorneys say, since the suit was filed in July 2007, all but one of the six prison guards named in the suit have resigned or been fired. Others have been convicted.
The guards were accused of numerous sexual acts against inmates including voyeurism, exhibitionism and rape.
Steps the DOC has already taken to prevent future assaults include adding surveillance cameras as well as minimizing uncontrolled access to certain closets and rooms where inmates had allegedly been assaulted.
source: www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_061209WAB-prison-sex-settlement-TP.73e34d5e.html?rss