Weinberg Issues Statement on Federal Consent Decree Involving Abuses at Edna Mahan Prison

TRENTON –  Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg released the following statement on hearing news of the proposed settlement reached between the U.S. Justice Department and the State of New Jersey requiring new and better protections for inmates at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, where reports of sexual assault and physical abuse by prison staff have been ongoing for several years:

“I am thankful to the U.S. Justice Department for acting here in what appears to be full and good faith, proposing a consent decree that contains more than 100 provisions meant to bring long-needed reforms to Edna Mahan. Importantly, there will also be a federal monitor in place to make sure inmates’ basic rights are protected and that transparency is maintained,” said Senator Weinberg (D-Bergen).

The proposed federal consent decree would require corrections officials to implement new protocols and procedures for prisoners to report attacks and establish guidelines to protect inmates who do come forward to report abuse from retaliation. Even though the Murphy administration has announced plans to close Edna Mahan, the consent decree will apply to current or future prisoners no matter where they reside.

“This consent decree must be only the first step in making needed changes to protect women prisoners of New Jersey, who all too often have found themselves subject to sexual assault, verbal abuse and emotional trauma at the hands of corrections officers bent on doing harm. We must do all we can to safeguard those incarcerated, and to treat them with dignity.”