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| Inmate alleges sex discrimination |
| By Cincinnati Post |
| Published: 06/14/2004 |
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Women at the Hamilton County (Ohio) Justice Center should be allowed to serve on work details that reduce their jail sentences as quickly as the men, an Avondale inmate is arguing in a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Simon Leis. When 24-year-old Romniah Blanks was sentenced to six months in jail for receiving stolen property, the judge specified she was eligible for 2-for-1 and 3-for-1 work details, according to the suit. Such assignments allow inmates to earn two or three days credit for time served for each one day worked. When she started her sentence March 16, she was assigned a 2-for-1 work detail as a captain's porter. She later requested a 3-for-1 detail, but was informed that women were not eligible for those jobs because "women socialize too much," according to her lawsuit. "The women are getting the short end of the stick at the jail," said one of her lawyers, Robert B. Newman. "They're not allowed to participate in the 3-for-1 details." Sheriff's department spokesman Steve Barnett said Leis wouldn't comment on pending litigation. "The kitchen is the only place you can get 3-for-1," and that's because it entails "long hours and they have to get up really early in the morning," Barnett said. Blanks' filed a written grievance complaining about the 3-for-1 policy, without action, before she turned to the courts, according to her lawsuit. Had she been eligible for 3-for-1 details, her sentence would be fully served by now, and Blanks "would be free," the lawsuit states. Instead, her "out date" is June 29, 2004. The suit seeks compensatory damages and lawyer fees. It also asks that the court designate the suit as a class-action. |
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