Westchester Department of Correction: Sexual harassment claims at county jail are isolated incidents

Female correction officers detailed numerous traumatic accounts involving insults, assaults, indecent exposure, threats of rape and violence against their families.

News 12 Staff

May 2, 2022, 9:51 PM

Updated 893 days ago

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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.