GALVESTON, Texas – Two correctional officers have been “relieved of duty” after a female inmate reported being sexually assaulted at Hospital Galveston, according to a release.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), along with Hospital Galveston and the Office of Inspector General immediately opened investigations into the complaint.
The inmate reported the two officers sexually assaulted her
The two correctional officers have been relieved of duty while both criminal and administrative investigations are ongoing.
Second sexual assault incident under investigation
Additionally, TDCJ and OIG are both investigating a second incident where a different female inmate alleged she was sexually assaulted at the beginning of the year.
In this incident, one officer was identified by name and two others were described. The officer identified by name and one of the officers described match those of the first incident mentioned.
The third officer has been off duty for a separate reason.
The names of the officers involved have not been released as investigations are ongoing.
The agency says a male officer(s) should not be alone with an individual female inmate. Additionally, staff cannot perform cross-gendered unclothed searches.
Inmate’s mother speaks
KPRC 2 News is not identifying the victim because she is a survivor of sexual assault.
KPRC 2 News Reporter Corley Peel spoke with the woman’s mother about the alleged attack.
Nancy Hall says her daughter has been serving a life sentence after she was convicted in 2003 for orchestrating her husband’s killing.
Hall said her daughter was taken from the Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas to Hospital Galveston in February for neck surgery. While still groggy and sedated in recovery, Hall says two corrections officers entered her daughter’s cell.
“They entered the cell, smashed her in the face, turned her over, sodomized her, and took the warming blankets,” Hall said.
Hall says the officers left her daughter naked and alone in the cell. Because the victim was still sedated, Hall says the memory of the attack came back gradually.
“It took her a while to remember it because she was in sedation. It started coming back to her when she got back to Lane Murray. Her anus was hurting very bad and was bleeding,” Hall said.
Hall said her daughter continues to suffer medical issues from the alleged assault but is too frightened to seek treatment.
“It’s very traumatic to her and she is so frightened now, she will not go to Hospital Galveston and spend the weekend or overnight there,” Hall said.
Full TDCJ statement:
The security and safety of the incarcerated population and staff is the number of priority of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The agency takes all claims of sexual assault seriously and immediately opens investigations to any allegations. To protect the population, it is the agency’s practice that a male officer(s) are not alone with an individual female inmate. Additionally, staff cannot perform cross-gendered unclothed searches.
After a female inmate alleged she was sexually assaulted by two correctional officers at Hospital Galveston, TDCJ and the Office of Inspector General immediately opened investigations into the complaint. The two correctional officers have been relieved of duty while the investigations are ongoing. As both criminal and administrative investigations are ongoing, further details cannot be provided.
Additionally, both the agency and OIG are investigating a second incident where a different female inmate alleged she was sexually assaulted at the beginning of the year. In this incident, one officer was identified by name and two others were described. The officer identified by name and one of the officers described match those of the first incident mentioned above. These officers have been relieved of duty while the investigations are ongoing. The third officer has been off duty for a separate reason. As both criminal and administrative investigations are ongoing, further details cannot be provided.
As more information becomes available during the investigations, the agency will evaluate processes and procedures for any area of improvement to prevent heinous attacks such as those alleged.