Women detained in a US prison have filed a complaint after experiencing a “night of terror”, a guard who, according to them, sold access to their cell to male prisoners who assaulted and raped them.
On Oct. 23, 2021, shortly before midnight, female inmates at the Clark County Jail in Indiana broke into the women’s quarters, according to two complaints recently filed in federal court.
No guard intervenes
These men, who had covered their faces with sheets and towels, “threatened, harassed, intimidated, assaulted” them for hours. At least two of them were raped, write the lawyers of 28 women.
According to them, the prisoners had obtained the key to the female dormitories from a guard, David Lowe. One of the complaints, filed by eight anonymous detainees, accuses him of having received $1,000 in exchange for this key.
“Curiously, despite the presence of surveillance cameras (…), not one of the guards came that night to the aid” of the dozens of victims, the authors point out. Worse still, according to the complainants, when one of them finally dared to ask for help, they were punished.
A guard, who arrived just after the men had left, deprived the prisoners of their “right to darkness”, ordering them to keep the lights on for 72 hours. In the following days, several of his personal belongings (pillows, pencils, etc.) were seized.
damages sought
These women ask the court for damages for “the violation of their civil rights” and that a federal trial be organized for the guard David Lowe, but also for the county sheriff who, according to them, failed in his duty to guarantee their safety. .
The guard has already been suspended and charged by the Indiana justice for “breach” and “agreement with an inmate.” Contacted by AFP, the sheriff did not respond.
With more than two million prisoners, the United States has the largest prison population of any democracy. Its prisons are regularly criticized and many guards are punished every year for various abuses.
Source: BFM TV
