Lawsuit Says State Fails to Protect Women from Sexual Abuse in Prison

A federal lawsuit filed Thursday alleges the state Department of Corrections has allowed sexual misconduct to flourish in the state's three upstate prisons for women. The suits claims authorities have not cracked down on officers who have inappropriate relationships with women and sexually abuse them. 

The lawsuit seeks class-action status for the roughly 2500 female inmates incarcerated in Albion, Bedford Hills and Taconic correctional facilities. Lawyers for the women say guards often befriend inmates and prey on women who have been sexually abused in the past.

"They find out what their family history is.  They often get information from people they can use to sort of foster this feeling of intimacy," said Veronica Vela, an attorney for Legal Aid's Prisoner's Rights Project. Ultimately, Vela said the relationships become violent and abusive.  

The lawsuit describes the alleged abuse of six women by guards who are often left alone with the women for long periods of time without supervision and who often smuggle contraband in for the women. 

The female inmates are not seeking cash damages. Instead, their lawyers say they want changes in prison policies and procedures and more thorough investigations of sexual abuse. 

Vela said that unless there was DNA evidence or proof of the abuse caught on camera, the women's allegations were routinely dismissed.  

Thomas Mailey, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections said the agency takes allegations of sexual abuse seriously.

"It's important to note that DOCCS thoroughly investigates each claim expeditiously to insure that appropriate action is taken," he said.