A gay transgender Rkers Island inmate, identified as M.T. in court papers, claims to have been assaulted on Dec. 2, 2012 by Correction Officer L. Galan after months of harassment.
A gay transgender inmate transitioning into a woman was repeatedly raped by a Rikers Island correction officer and jail officials did nothing to stop it, a new suit charges.
The inmate, identified in court papers only as M.T., was assaulted on Dec. 2, 2012 by Correction Officer L. Galan after months of harassment, a new Manhattan Federal Court suit charges.
“Galan stated that Plaintiff ‘could do this the easy way or the hard way,’ ” papers charge. “Plaintiff did not feel that (she) could walk away or call out for help.”
Galan gave M.T. gifts like an iPod Touch, headphones, a charger, a case and $20 in cash to not report the abuse, which occurred at the Robert N. Davoren Complex, according to documents.
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M.T., who was being held on a burglary charge, says she told Rikers officials about the alleged abuse after the iPod was discovered.
But Galan was not prosecuted or disciplined as a result of the inmate’s allegation, papers claim.
The suit charges that other correction officers and health workers are aware of Galan's "open and notorious" conduct.
M.T., who is in prison, seeks damages to be determined at trial.
"Abuses such as this occur all too often in our jail system. Unfortunately, female, gay and transgender inmates are more vulnerable to sexual assault by inmates and guards," M.T.’s attorney, Philip Hines said.
Galan gave M.T. gifts like an iPod Touch to keep quiet about the alleged abuse, according to court papers.
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A Department of Correction spokeswoman would not say if Galan remains on duty at the jail because M.T.’s allegations are still under investigation.
“Commissioner (Joseph) Ponte has zero tolerance for any sexual harassment or violence against inmates,” the spokeswoman said.
She noted that the jail is working to bring it into compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which was signed into law in 2003. The act is intended to curb rape behind bars through a zero tolerance policy, research and analyses of alleged cases of sexual assault.
The DOC received a $1.2 million federal grant in 2012 aimed at refining jail practices to prevent rape and employs a coordinator dedicated to bringing the jail into compliance with the act.
In November the jail opened up a 30-bed transgender housing unit.
A city Law Department spokesman said the suit would be reviewed.
In May, the Legal Aid Society filed a separate lawsuit that alleged repeated sexual assaults of two inmates at the Rose M. Singer Center at the hands of correction officer Benny Santiago.
