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| Report: Conn. Prison System Plagued by Sexual Harassment |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/17/2003 |
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Sexual harassment within the Connecticut prison system is a ''pervasive'' problem, according to a report released March 6 by state human rights investigators. The investigation by the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities began late last year after a group of female correction officers accused prison officials of routinely mishandling or ignoring their complaints and retaliating against women for filing the accusations. The female officers, who have sued the agency, said they were harassed by male co-workers. The commission said it found prison officials misunderstood legal standards, failed to discipline those who engaged in conduct prohibited by the agency's sexual harassment policy, and sometimes punished or threatened to discipline a victim of sexual harassment for failing to report the incident when it occurred. ''I am deeply troubled by the pervasiveness of sexual harassment at DOC and by DOC's failure to respond appropriately to such complaints,'' the commission's executive director, Cynthia Watts Elder, said in a statement. The report makes nearly 80 suggestions for changes. Investigators recommended that the Correction Department adopt a clearer definition of sexual harassment; conduct more timely investigations; put more emphasis on prevention; and eliminate a policy requiring complainants to sign a statement indicating that they are also a subject of the investigation and may be punished. Outgoing Correction Commissioner John J. Armstrong has said sexual harassment is not pervasive in the agency. About 20 complaints were filed each year in his agency, which employs about 7,000 workers, he said. DOC spokesman Brian Garnett said recently the agency ''has and will continue to take the issue of sexual harassment extremely seriously.'' Agency officials ''look forward to working with the commission to implement as many of its recommendations as is possible,'' he said. Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, who has led efforts to expose allegations of harassment, said the report marks the start of a new round of efforts against DOC. ''This is not the end of it,'' said Prague, the Senate co-chairwoman of the General Assembly's Labor and Public Employees Committee. Legislation pending before the committee would require the firing of any state employee who is found to have engaged in sexual harassment and prohibit state agencies from disclosing the names of employees who complain of sexual harassment. |
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