Miami-Dade County

31 Women Corrections Officers Sue Miami-Dade Over Alleged Inmate Harassment

The lawsuit claims Miami-Dade County has done nothing to stop inmates from sexually harassing female correction officers

Nearly three dozen women corrections officers in South Florida are suing Miami-Dade County over allegations that male inmates routinely sexually harass them.

Attorney John Davis said Wednesday that 31 women are involved in the lawsuit filed in Miami federal court. It claims the county has done nothing to stop inmates from regularly exposing themselves, masturbating and making lewd comments when the women are working nearby.

The lawsuit says the practice is known as "gunning'' among inmates at four Miami-Dade corrections facilities. It seeks unspecified damages and a judge's order putting an end to the harassment.

Similar cases in other counties have resulted in damage awards in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for female corrections officers, according to Davis.

A Miami-Dade corrections spokeswoman declined to comment Wednesday.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us