NJ Prison Closing After Women Inmates Were Beaten By Guards

UNION, NJ — After multiple inmates were reportedly severely beaten, Governor Phil Murphy said Monday he plans to close the scandal-ridden Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.

The violent attacks on Jan. 11 and 12 at New Jersey's only women's correctional facility included one inmate who was pepper-sprayed before five correctional officers entered her cell. She was then reportedly punched with a closed fist about 28 times in the face area while she was pressed against the cell wall. The woman had serious bodily injuries including a concussion and facial injuries. Read More: 3 Officers Charged After Women Inmates Beaten At NJ Prison

Murphy said after he learned about the violent attacks on Jan. 11, he ordered an independent investigation to determine what happened, how it happened, and to ensure a situation like this never occurs again in the state's correctional facilities.

The investigative report released on Monday was prepared by former State Comptroller Matt Boxer and the law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP on cell extractions at the facility.

"I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by the horrific attacks that took place on Jan. 11. Individuals in state custody deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and the officers involved in this incident, both directly and indirectly, abused their power to send a message that they were in charge. The excessive use of force, as outlined in the report, cannot and will not be tolerated by my Administration," said Murphy.

After reading the investigative report, Murphy said the only "path forward is to responsibly close the facility."

As a result, the inmates will be relocated to a new facility or other facilities.

"Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women has a long history of abusive incidents predating our Administration, and we must now commit ourselves to completely breaking this pattern of misconduct to better serve incarcerated women entrusted to the State’s care," said Murphy.

Murphy is also looking into various recommendations outlined in the report, including establishing independent oversight; further clarifying authorization protocols for cell extractions; strengthening staff recruitment, retention, and training; accelerating the implementation and adoption of body-worn cameras and an early warning system; and improving physical infrastructure while pursuing the ultimate goal of closure of the facility.

Since the events on Jan. 11 a total of 8 correctional officers have been charged in connection. Read More: 4 More Officers Charged In Beating Of Women Inmates At NJ Prison

Senator Kristin Corrado responded to Murphy's saying his administration failed to heed federal warnings allowing abuses against female inmates to continue.

"The abuses and sexual assaults that occurred at Edna Mahan were the result of poor leadership by Governor Murphy and NJDOC Commissioner Hicks and their failure to heed federal warnings or hold abusive staff accountable," said Corrado. "It's unclear how closing the facility at taxpayer expense will remedy the leadership concerns that will persist regardless of where the inmates are located. The building didn’t fail these women, the Murphy administration did."

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