Friday, February 17, 2012

Victory for Rape Victims in New Mexico

Just wanted to quickly update everyone on the trial in New Mexico regarding the rape of multiple women by a CO at a CCA prison in New Mexico.  As arguments closed, more lurid details emerged: the victims apparently had little-to-no access to grievance forms to voice their complaints, and even when they could fill out the forms, they were sometimes thrown away; the women were retaliated against for filing complaints; and other guards pretty much had to be complicit in the attacks to allow the CO to rape and assault the women out of the view of security cameras.

After a day of deliberation, the jury awarded $325,000 in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages for the victims.  This is a decision that CCA is almost certain to appeal, as they will likely try to pass on the liability for the damages to either the individual employees or the state of New Mexico.

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