Making Things Right at Snake River
In Ontario, Ore., 20 female corrections employees from the Snake River Correctional Institution have agreed to settle a sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuit brought against their employer, the Department of Corrections (DOC).
The settlement — mediated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — will pay the workers a total of $885,000. And although DOC admits no liability, the agreement forces the department to establish procedures for resolving future complaints and a system to monitor progress.
The women, members of AFSCME Local 3940 (Council 75), had accused management of failing to provide private areas where they could clean up after being spat on or having feces thrown at them by inmates. In addition, female staffers were subjected to having their breasts touched, offered promotions in exchange for sex, and hounded with comments and questions about their bodies and sex lives.
COs were routinely denied positions in tower posts because supervisors didn't believe the women were good shooters or would be hesitant to pull the trigger in an emergency situation. Ironically, one of the officers in question was a former U.S. Marine Corps sharpshooter and another an ex-deputy sheriff.
During cell extractions of inmates, female COs were deliberately reassigned posts because they weren't considered physically strong enough to counter resistance. Apparently, some supervisors also said that the medical staff and general public would feel more secure if male officers escorted prisoners to hospitals.
