Report: Fed. Prison Staff Sex Abuse Claims Doubled Since 2001

A recent Justice Department report found that prisoner allegations of sex abuse by prison staff has more than doubled in the last seven years. You may read the actual report here. From the Washington Post:

Prisoners don't command much respect. Those who steal, rape and murder make life miserable for the rest of us and should pay for their actions.

But when society puts them away, they must be treated decently, humanely and in accordance with the law.

So a report last week from the Justice Department's inspector general was particularly troubling because it detailed crimes by an unexpected group: federal employees who work in the prisons.

Inspector General Glenn A. Fine calls it "staff sexual abuse of federal inmates." The document paints a disgusting picture of federal employees who have disgraced themselves, shamed their professions and dishonored the federal service.

As my colleague Carrie Johnson reported Friday, the inspector general found that allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct had more than doubled from fiscal year 2001 through 2008.

Comments

[Joe]

I'm not surprised that sexual abuse happens. Don't misunderstand, it shocks me as much as the next person, but I'm not so naive as to think that all federal prison employees are decent, law-abiding citizens. What DOES surprise me is that allegations have doubled in the last eight years. Does the report give any explanation for that?