A male Rikers Island inmate who identified himself as a woman raped a female inmate, according to the lawsuit.
The suit also alleges that a male inmate told officials at the women's prison that he was not transgender and that he was only there “to have sex.”
A former Rikers Island inmate claims she was raped in prison by a male inmate who identified herself as a woman and that her repeated complaints to Department of Corrections (DOC) officials were ignored, according to a lawsuit filed in November. There is. report by new york post.
“The criminal reported [a transgender inmate] “He was not transgender or gay, but was just there to 'feel good,'” the complaint states.
New York City is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, along with correctional officers Jennifer Cruz and Rashida King.
The plaintiff, who identified herself as Rose Doe, allegedly received sexual advances from a male inmate in April 2022 after the inmate was transferred to a “protective custody” dormitory at the Rose M. Singer (RMSC) Women's Prison on Rikers Island. She claims that she was molested and raped.
After the female inmates expressed their concerns, “Defendant Cruz made it clear to Plaintiff and other female inmates that he didn't care what happened to them, saying, 'I don't care.' ” the complaint alleges.
For the first two days after being moved to an all-female dormitory, the male inmate stared at Doe, then 21, “while he masturbated,” according to the complaint.
During the second alleged incident, the male inmate “left the room.” [restroom] Stalls while exposing his erect penis and playing with it [her] The complaint adds that prison guards then “did nothing but yell at” the man to come out of the bathroom.
Mr. Doe filed two complaints with DOC staff after these alleged incidents. RMSC acting warden Floyd Phipps then reviewed the complaint and subsequently sent an email to staff stating that he believed the male inmate in question was “unfit for RMSC” and that Doe “wanted to remain at RMSC.” There wasn't,” he said. I stopped the unit because I felt it was dangerous. ”
However, correctional officers did not remove the male inmates from the women's dormitory, the suit alleges.
The next morning, while Doe was “sleeping in bed, the assailant took advantage of the opportunity to sexually assault her.” [Doe] Again — pull[ing] I start pulling down my pants while she sleeps[ing] to rape her,” the complaint states.
DOC staff, including Rivera and King, then stopped Doe from receiving medical treatment for the rest of the day and refused to remove the male inmate from the dormitory, the complaint states.
The next day, the male inmate was “quietly” returned to his old dormitory, and Doe was ordered to address the general population “as punishment for reporting the sexual assault,” the lawsuit alleges.
The complaint also states that Doe believes the male inmate was “directed by DOC staff to identify as transgender so that he could stay in the women's dormitory where he had access to female inmates.” .
“There are some testimonies from inside the prison. [transfer] The request was being made – [DOC] The officer said something like, “If you want to go into a women's facility, all you have to do is say you're transgender.''[gender]'' said Doe's attorney, Nicholas Liakas. new york post.
Notably, the male inmate in question was involved in at least five Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) complaints, all of which were still unresolved at the time of his transfer to the all-female dormitory. , the complaint states.
He was transferred to state prison in August 2023, according to a DOC representative.
Doe's lawyer said he chose to use a false name in the lawsuit because he still has a pending criminal case and fears retaliation if he is sent back to prison.
“There's a good chance she'll be sent to prison. She's worried that if her name gets out there, there will be retaliation inside the prison,” Liakas said. new york post.
Liakas added that his office and Doe don't necessarily have an issue with transgender people, saying, “This is more of a safety issue and that someone should bring this hot button issue to its core.” “This is a fact that can be used as a loophole to gain access to women within the company.” Rikers. ”
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