Former Colo. Co. Prison Officers Allege Sexual Coercion

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By Associated Press

Published: 07/21/2003

Three former Crowley County prison officers are suing the private companies that operate the prison, claiming they were coerced into having sex with managers and that sexual misconduct was rampant among employees and inmates.
In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday, one of the three female officers alleged that a high-ranking male official of the Crowley County Correctional Facility came to
her Pueblo home and forced her to have sex.
The lawsuit alleges that man had been fired by the Colorado Department of Corrections for sexual harassment.
Another of the three women claimed she was raped at the prison by a officer.
Female employees who resisted sexual advances by male managers were punished with undesirable assignments, hostile and demeaning verbal attacks, sexual assault and unwarranted discipline, the lawsuit said.
Plaintiffs are Lucille Gigliotti, Pamela Johnson and Jennifer Stalder, who left their jobs at the prison in 2001 and 2002.
Named as defendants are several businesses including Dominion Correctional Services that own and operate the private prison and three current or former top officials.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified financial damages for alleged violations of the women's civil rights.
The prison contracted with Colorado, Wyoming and Washington to house about 1,200 male inmates.
''Plaintiffs and other female employees were subjected to an atmosphere that condoned and encouraged sexual relations and relationships between coworkers,'' the lawsuit said.
It claimed that warden Steve Hargett, security chief Ronald McCall and security official Julian Vigil hired female staff based on ''attractiveness, whether she might be 'easy to get to bed,' or whether she might be easily manipulated.''

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