June 7 (UPI) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday announced plans to close the state's only women's prison following an independent investigation into abuse at the facility.
Murphy announced his intent to close Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and relocate inmates to a new facility or other facilities after 10 corrections officers have been charged in attacks against inmates during "cell extractions" on Jan. 11.
"I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by the horrific attacks that took place on January 11," Murphy said. "Individuals in state custody deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and the officers involved in this incident, both directly and indirectly, abused their power to send a message that they were in charge."
Murphy noted that the facility "has a long history of abusive incidents" predating his administration.
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"We must now commit ourselves to completely breaking this pattern of misconduct to better serve incarcerated women entrusted to the state's care," he said.
He also released an investigative report by former State Comptroller Matt Boxer and the law firm Lowenstein Sandler on the Jan. 11 incident in which two extraction teams armed with riot gear and pepper spray attempted to extract 22 inmates.
The report states that cell extractions are not a defined policy but "generally entail the removal of an inmate from her cell by an extraction team" and extractions against an inmate will "inherently involves 'use of force' and is subject to standards related to justification and reasonableness."
According to the report, the Jan. 11 cell extractions were "so mishandled as to result in the injury of multiple inmates and the ultimate suspension of 34 EMCF supervisors and staff."
The report details an incident in which officers cut off an inmate's clothes after she refused a strip search and was left unconscious and naked on the floor, with a nurse's report from the following day stating she had scratches, visible bruises and a broken arm.
It also states that one inmate was pepper-sprayed and punched "numerous times on her face, chest and back" after refusing to leave her cell and later was forced to perform a strip search in front of male officers after being threatened with pepper spray.
The investigation concluded that the facility failed to establish proper protocol for cell extractions and that staff used excessive force while filing false reports and failing to record extractions, including reports that stated strip searches were conducted only by female staff when male officers were present.
