Ex-correction officer who witnessed inmate abuse gets jail time

A former corrections officer at New Jersey’s state prison was sentenced Tuesday to one year and eight months in prison previously admitted that he had done nothing to break up two inmate attacks, federal prosecutors said.

Joshua Hand, 35, of Millville, who previously worked at Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, pleaded guilty in February to depriving two inmates of their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, according to a news release from the US Attorney. New Jersey office district.

In December 2019, Hand was in the officers’ quarters in the jail’s kitchen when the first inmate was called to that room, the office said.

Shortly after the individual entered the officer’s quarters, the exit door was blocked and in Hand’s presence, the inmate was simultaneously attacked by several other inmates and placed on the ground, investigators said.

Hand watched and did not attempt to intervene as several inmates pinned and pinned the inmate to the ground, while other inmates delivered multiple punches and other blows to his torso, arms and legs, officials said.

Hand did not report the attack to his supervisors or medical staff, despite knowing he should, authorities said.

Later that day, another inmate was in the officers’ quarters when a corrections officer hit him in the legs several times with a broomstick, federal prosecutors said. Hand also saw this attack occur and again did not intervene or report it to supervisors or medical personnel.

A federal judge also sentenced Hand to three years of supervised release and fined him $10,000, according to the release.