Former Federal Corrections Officer Sentenced for Sexual Misconduct Violations
It is very nerve racking how the United States can not even trust its top trusted officials any longer. In the news, citizens are told more and more about how those who are supposed to be trusted and being the role models in society are also guilty of the same crimes as those they are watching and disciplining. Throughout the past five years, there has been an increasing number of these cases. First it was the priests, then soldiers, then police men, and now even the corrections officers? What is going on here? Are we doing enough background checks before providing these jobs?
Working at the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan Texas, Ricky Bernard, a former Bureau of Prisons corrections officer was sentenced today, August 10th 2007. He is now on the list of a growing number of trusted individuals who are turning against their title. Previously pleading guilt in a Houston federal court to federal civil rights charges, he has now also been sentenced to 21 months in prison. To top it all off, he is guilty got sexual misconduct with three inmates!!
"Sexual misconduct by an officer is very disturbing," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice. "When law enforcement officials violate the law and the public trust, we will not hesitate to prosecute them."
Though Bernard apparently lied to federal law enforcement officers and even a sworn affidavit about his sexual misconduct, he admitted to his crimes finally at his guilty plea on October 20, 2006. Throughout 2003 and 2004, disturbingly enough while inmates were all under his supervision as a Bureau of Prisons officer , there were many different occasions when he had sexual contact with inmates.
Did these inmates deserve this treatment? Though some people actually do not feel bad for these inmates feeling that they deserve the worst treatment and should have been beaten instead of sexually assaulted, it is still not right. These inmates are serving times for what they did wrong, and they are being more or less told that these types of crimes are alright if the officers who are watching them are committing crimes of their own. This should not be the case at all.
This case is just not one out of the blue either. According to the Civil Rights Division, these numbers are ever growing throughout the last six fiscal years. Compared to the previous six years, an overwhelming 25 percent more color of law cases have been filed as well are 15 percent more defendants have been charged. To top it off, 50 percent more defendants have been convicted. These statistics are telling us something. And that is that something must be done!
SOURCE
Published by Steven Tyler
I am a 19 year old college student currently working on a bachelor's degree in nursing. View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentIts a shame when articles are posted with no details about the trial itself. If journalists were truly concerned about the truth, they would try to dig deeper to the core of this set up. This correction officer was targeted because of a promotion that was never given to the prosecutor. On the day the prosecutor and all those in favor of the prosecutor shall come to God's judgment may he have no mercy on the worthless peon's that put an innocent man behind bars.
Sex crimes by deputies, corrections officers, and all typs of public officials has been going on foreaver--it is just beginning to get recognised. The sheriff of Atoka Co. OK. had his staff convicted of "Food for Sex." and still managed to get re-elected.(2005)