The Westchester County Department of Correction says allegations
of sexual harassment inside the county jail are isolated incidents.
In April, female correction officers were called to testify before the Board
of Legislators' Public Safety Committee on the dangers and harassment
by inmates.
They detailed numerous traumatic accounts involving insults, assaults,
indecent exposure, threats of rape and violence against their families.
The Department of Correction commissioner said all those are all
isolated incidents.
"Jails
and prisons are complicated environments that come with a lot of
challenges," says Joseph Spano, Department of Correction commissioner.
The correction officers are calling for stronger disciplinary actions for
inmates who engage in inappropriate behavior, along with criminal charges for
verbal abuse or threats.