Inmate Sexual Assault at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Lawyer

The role of a correctional officer in a prison is to enforce prison rules, keep order within prisons, and supervise activities of inmates. It should go without saying that correctional officers are not supposed to break prison rules or commit crimes by sexually abusing inmates. Sadly, inmate sexual assault at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility by correctional officers occurs at an alarming rate. What makes it even worse is that inmate sexual abuse is often not reported and the abusive correctional officers often get away with it. However, with the May 24, 2022 passage of the Adult Survivors Act, inmates who were victims of sexual assault years ago have an opportunity to file civil lawsuits against their abusers in order to receive monetary damages from a personal injury claim. If you were the victim of a sexual offense while an inmate at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, contact an experienced New York prisoner sexual abuse lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. We are dedicated to seeking justice for victims of sex crimes.

Sexual assault by correctional officers, prison volunteers, and other prison staff is not unusual. In 2016 a Bedford Hills correctional officer left his post and entered the cell of an inmate. He kissed her, bit her, groped her, and attempted to remove her shorts, but was interrupted by another correctional officer. The victim did what few victims do. She reported the incident. Because authorities were able to collect his DNA from her body, the officer was prosecuted. The victim filed a civil suit against the correctional officer and was awarded over $500,000 in damages.

One of the reasons that it is unusual for victims to report being sexually assaulted by correctional officers is the fear of retaliation. Those concerns are not unfounded. In the 2016 case, when learning that she reported the assault, other correctional officers searched and trashed the victim’s cell.

Other reasons that sexual abuse at Bedford Hills and other correctional facilities often goes unreported is due to shame, depression, embarrassment, and the victim feeling responsible for their own assault. Some victims feel that they will not be believed. Afterall, they have been convicted of a crime and correctional officers are law enforcement.

Recognizing the barriers to seeking justice, in May 2022, New York passed the Adult Survivors Act. Victims of sexual assault at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility now have an opportunity to pursue civil claims against their abusers even though the statute of limitations has passed. This means that whether the abuse occurred 10 years ago or over 30 years ago, victims of inmate sexual assault at Bedford Hills now have the opportunity to file lawsuits and pursue substantial financial compensation.

Under the Adult Survivors Act, with the help of an experienced New York prisoner sexual abuse lawyer, victims of rape and other types of sexual abuse can file civil lawsuits and demand compensation for the losses they suffered. There are limitations to this opportunity:

• Plaintiff’s claim must have been barred due to the statute of limitations
• Plaintiff must file their lawsuit between November 24, 2022 and November 23, 2023
• Plaintiff must have been the victim of a sex offense as defined by N.Y. Pen. Law § 130 et seq
• Plaintiff must have been at least 18 years old when the sexual attack occurred

Note that the opportunity that the Adult Survivors Act provides applies to all eligible victims of sexual assault and not only victims who were inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.

If you are wondering whether your case is eligible under the New York Adult Survivors Act, contact an experienced prisoner abuse attorney in New York. By pursuing a civil claim against their attackers and those who protected the attackers, victims may be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced as well as for other losses.

Victims of sexual abuse at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility have the right to justice. Because lawsuits must be filed by November 23, 2023, it is critical that you immediately contact an experienced prisoner abuse attorney serving New York at Stephen Bilkis & Associates at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent victims of sexual abuse in Westchester County, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Long Island.