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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Scale of sexual abuse problem and DOI's responsibilities
3:08:08
·
90 sec
Commissioner Strauber addresses the alarming scale of sexual abuse allegations in DOC facilities and outlines DOI's responsibilities in addressing these issues.
- Over 700 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of women in DOC custody have been filed
- DOI actively responds to and investigates allegations of sexual abuse by DOC or CHS staff
- DOI provides information to agencies for disciplinary actions and has made recommendations to improve DOC policies
Jocelyn Strauber
3:08:08
The allegations of sexual abuse of women in the custody of DOC Facilities by DOC correction officers set forth in over 700 lawsuits filed earlier this year are horrifying.
3:08:21
The city has a responsibility to keep safe, all persons within DOC custody, and the decades long abuse alleged, if true, even in part, reflects that the city has failed to meet that responsibility.
3:08:35
DOI plays an active role in responding to and investigating allegations that DOC or correctional health services, CHS, staff have sexually abused persons in custody.
3:08:47
DOI receives and reviews all complaints of such abuse, conducts investigations, and when there is sufficient evidence of criminality, makes referrals to prosecuting agencies.
3:08:59
For reasons that I will describe in a moment, these types of cases can be challenging to investigate.
3:09:04
DOE is committed to assisting DOC in its mission to eradicate sexual abuse in the city's jails.
3:09:11
Where DOC or CHS seeks to discipline or terminate an employee as a result of a sexual abuse or misconduct investigation.
3:09:20
DOE provides the relevant agency with information from our investigative file and assists their efforts as needed.
3:09:28
DOI also has made over 30 recommendations to DOC in the past decade to improve DOC policies and procedures that are designed to prevent abuse.