State Secretary of Public Safety Gary Aronhalt said Monday that he plans to investigate allegations of widespread sexual abuse of prisoners at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Virginia. In the past 9 months, inmates have registered 25 sexual misconduct complaints. Although prison officials usually investigate these complaints, public pressure in this case caused state officials to become involved. One of the victims, inmate Yolanda Gross, claims to have been assaulted by a guard out of view of the security cameras. The guard reportedly said to her, “There’s nothing you can do.” In other alleged incidents, guards stood outside the shower doors as the inmates exited. “If we speak out, other officers agitate you, write you tickets. Your job, your school, your visits are taken away from you,” said Gross.
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