Gloucester County NAACP WIN Calls on Governor To Examine Conditions at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women
Gloucester County NAACP
The Gloucester County NAACP WIN (Women In the NAACP) Committee today announced that it has concluded that there is reasonable cause and urgency in emphasizing that the alleged illegal and indecent treatment of women must end at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County.
“Public Awareness of the situation at this facility has grown by leaps and bounds in the last several years because of increased media exposure and public awareness, and investigations by the Federal Justice Department,” said Loretta Winters, Chair of the Gloucester County NAACP WIN Committee.” Our organization has received calls from throughout New Jersey looking for support on this matter.”
Historically, in our society, women have been expected to be wives and mothers only. They are respected by the rest of the community for being good cooks, good housewives, good mothers, but never for being intelligent, strong, educated, or vocal.
While all women, in general, are treated differently based on their gender, Black and Brown women face the additional challenge of racial discrimination and culturally rooted harsh treatment. The majority of the incarcerated women at this beleaguered institution are women of color.
Based on reports at this facility, NAACP WIN alleges that the violence against these inmates violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Prison Officials at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women are not exempted from their constitutional duty to protect prisoners from harm, including assaultive behavior and sexual abuse by staff.
“Looking to join the search for putting an end to the conditions and treatment of women, including sexual abuse at the correctional facility for women, NAACP WIN wants to partner with other women’s groups and supporters in pressing the New Jersey State officials,” Winters said.
“They are calling on Governor Phil Murphy to create a Governor-level special committee, consisting of correctional officials, women in corrections, formerly incarcerated women, and community representatives interested in developing strategies that will yield tangible, effective solutions to the alarming situation at this rehabilitation facility,” added Winters.
The group is asking the Governor to immediately enforce the provisions of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution by all Edna Mahan Correctional Facility supervisory staff with a strong warning that any supervisory staff with knowledge of unconstitutional treatment of inmates at the facility that fails to report it, will be subject to disciplinary action up to including termination of employment.
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