Violation of Incarcerated Women’s Civil Rights in New Jersey

Kathleen Jones (left) "I was subjected to a medical exam in the dark, dirty examination room in the woman's unit, because I knew that if I refused to be examined in that room I would not receive care." MORE Sylvia Flynn "You don't know whether it's night or day. I used to sit at the window and watch the stars and the moon. Now, it's like I'm in a cave." MORE

In March 2007 the New Jersey Department of Corrections transferred approximately 40 women from the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, New Jersey 's sole women's prison , to the New Jersey State Prison. NJSP is a maximum-security men's prison holding approximately 1,800 male prisoners.

As a result of this transfer, the women were stripped of  p rogramming and services appropriate to their needs and are now subjected to lock-down conditions virtually identical to those in disciplinary segregation. They are subjected to conditions far more oppressive and restrictive than those of male prisoners, including confinement in their cells for up to 22 hours a day, denial of basic movement within the prison, placement in a pen when given time outdoors, and denial of access to the prison law library, the prison school, and basic hygiene items.  Under these conditions, the women's mental and physical health have rapidly deteriorated, fights have broken out, and suicide attempts have occurred .

On December 12, 2007 the ACLU filed a civil rights lawsuit against the NJ Department of Corrections.
Read the press release >>
Read the full complaint >>
Read the motion for sanctions >>