The NAACP has asked federal prosecutors to investigate allegations that a female African-American inmate in the county jail was ordered by a corrections officer to attack a white female inmate.
Sherika Deneen Adams of Annapolis claims that she was told by the female sergeant to assault inmate Joy Abouzied of Glen Burnie, according to the NAACP.
Ms. Abouzied filed assault charges against Ms. Adams and another inmate following the Sept. 25 incident at the Ordnance Road Detention Center in Glen Burnie.
Leaders of the county chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said if the allegations are true, the civil rights of the inmates might have been violated.
A copy of the letter, also mailed to several county elected officials, was obtained by The Capital. The letter did not fully identify the corrections officer involved.
Richard Baker, superintendent of the county's two jails, said he has seen the NAACP letter but declined to discuss the matter.
County Executive Janet S. Owens has asked Mr. Baker to review the letter and report back to her, said Jody Couser, Ms. Owens' spokesman.
The letter to Mr. DiBiagio includes a statement signed by three inmates who claim to have witnessed the events leading up to the attack.
According to their account, Ms. Abouzied allegedly got upset with the sergeant when told she had been assigned to a cleaning detail. Ms. Adams family has said the sergeant is an African American.
Ms. Abouzied reportedly accused the sergeant of being "prejudiced" and cursed her before going to her dorm to pack her belongings. She was being moved to another area.
The sergeant did not attempt to stop Ms. Adams from entering Ms. Abouzied's dorm area, according to the inmates. Another inmate, Artisha Renee Thomas, 23, of Laurel, allegedly joined her in the assault.
Ms. Adams' family said she was segregated and lost 22 days of good time credits, effectively lengthening her sentence.
Upon her release the following Sunday, Ms. Abouzied filed assault charges against both women, alleging the attack was unprovoked. However, she did not name the officer.
She was serving a five-weekend sentence for assault. Investigators in the jail took pictures of her injuries, she said.
According to the NAACP complaint, Ms. Adams filed a complaint against the sergeant, but that an internal investigation by jail officials "merely 'white washed"' it.