Corrections Officers Charged with Violently Abusing Inmates at N.J. Women’s Prison
Most of us have suffered in one way or another as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But in one women’s prison in New Jersey, already rife with abuse, conditions became pure hell.
Miserable, trapped in their cells for months on end to control the spread of the virus, inmates at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women began to show signs of unrest, with some hurling feces, urine, and garbage at guards. The officers allegedly responded with a brutal show of force, going well beyond what might have been reasonable or necessary.
Earlier this month, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced criminal charges against three guards at the prison over an alleged mass assault on defenseless inmates. The group of officers is accused of suiting up in riot gear, and without warning or a good reason, conducting horrifyingly violent “cell extractions” around midnight Jan. 12, 2021.
Inmates were commanded to “cuff up” by allowing themselves to be handcuffed behind their backs, and yanked out of their cells. According to the allegations, a slow response or non-compliance led to the women being pepper sprayed and mercilessly beaten, some receiving broken bones and concussions.
A detailed account of the incident published yesterday by the Newark Star-Ledger and NJ.com described a prison with a long history of abuse, including sexual abuse, against women prisoners. The situation has only been made worse by the pandemic, which resulted in lengthy lockdowns for prisoners in their tiny cells, and simmering tensions.
The officers are accused of not only orchestrating a planned attack, but also lying in official reports in an attempt to cover up their misconduct. One woman who was brutalized was left with a broken eye socket. Another had ligaments in her knee torn so badly she was forced to use a wheelchair.
According to inmates, prisoners who were attacked were mostly compliant, and sobbed, struggled to protect their faces, and begged for officers to stop as they were beaten.
Disturbingly, the event happened not long after the U.S. Justice Department released a report finding that there was a pattern of abuse and sexual assault by guards at the prison. The DOJ said that inmates were also sometimes forced to engage in sex acts with each other, while staff members looked on.
Despite some guards being criminally charged and convicted over the conduct, it persisted. The culture of abuse was so entrenched and widespread it was found to violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
It is appalling to think of how bad abuse of prisoners has to get before policymakers take it seriously. Still, the silver lining is that now state officials are finally pushing for reforms. A state lawmaker is leading an effort to impeach state corrections commissioner, Marcus Hicks, for violating prisoners’ civil rights. Other officials are calling for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to implement new legal provisions expanding prisoner parental rights and enhancing a corrections review board.
The DOJ’s findings also helped open the door to a class-action lawsuit on behalf of inmates over sexual assault claims. Citing the report, a state appellate court gave the green light to the case by ruling that it met standards for class certification, allowing it to proceed as a group lawsuit alleging systemic problems at the prison.
More and more, as these terrible accounts come to light, the pressure is building on public servants to address misconduct and abuse in prisons. We hope that recent actions lead to improved conditions for the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility inmates and all prisoners across the state.
Until then, it’s important for people to speak up and know their rights when faced with such unfair and brutal treatment. These barbaric situations can feel utterly hopeful for prisoners and their loved ones. But every report, every legal battle can help make a difference.