Clinton County Jail Facing Reforms After Sex Harassment Claims

PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Clinton County Jail is under fire after a scathing investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed a pattern of sexual harassment, retaliation, and gender-based discrimination against both female Corrections Officers (COs) and incarcerated women. The Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office (LEMIO) reached a first-of-its-kind settlement with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Clinton County, mandating significant reforms to address the deeply rooted issues within the facility.

The investigation, launched in February 2023, stemmed from complaints alleging widespread misconduct. LEMIO’s probe uncovered that as far back as 2021, multiple female COs filed reports with the Clinton County Department of Personnel detailing persistent sexual harassment – including unwanted physical contact, explicit sexual comments, and direct requests for sexual acts. Despite these reports being made to jail supervisors, the Department of Personnel found the complaints were largely ignored, failing to adhere to Clinton County’s own sexual harassment policy. Two male COs were found to have violated the policy, with one resigning and the others receiving only disciplinary action, remaining employed.

The fallout didn’t stop there. Female COs who came forward reported experiencing retaliation following the Department of Personnel’s lackluster investigation, being actively discouraged from filing further complaints. Adding to the grim picture, formerly incarcerated women detailed their own experiences of misconduct at the hands of male employees, alleging instances of inappropriate touching, groping, and sexually charged comments. While the CCSO was previously alerted to some of these claims and conducted limited interviews, crucial documentation – including investigation reports and grievance records – were mysteriously missing, lost within the system.

Attorney General James didn’t mince words. “Women corrections officers should never fear showing up to work and incarcerated women should not be afraid of the individuals responsible for their safety,” she stated. “This agreement puts Clinton County on the correct path forward to improve conditions and ensure a safe and secure environment for both corrections officers and incarcerated women.” The OAG investigation also determined that the Clinton County Jail was demonstrably out of compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), a federal law designed to prevent and eliminate sexual assault within correctional facilities.

Under the terms of the settlement, the CCSO is now obligated to implement sweeping changes. This includes the appointment of an independent outside monitor to oversee the jail’s progress, full implementation of PREA standards, and a comprehensive overhaul of policies and procedures related to sexual harassment and misconduct. The CCSO must also establish a clear and accessible reporting system for both staff and incarcerated individuals, ensuring that complaints are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. The specifics of the independent monitor’s role and the timeline for full PREA compliance have not yet been publicly released.

This settlement marks a significant escalation in the Attorney General’s commitment to holding county sheriff’s offices accountable for misconduct within their jails. It’s a clear message that systemic failures to protect both staff and vulnerable populations will not be tolerated. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the progress – or lack thereof – at the Clinton County Jail.

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