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RIKERS COS DESCRIBE SEX ASSAULT IN BID TO BRING BACK SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

Two female correction officers are detailing their harrowing experiences of attempted rape and sexual assault at the hands of Rikers Island inmates in a push to reinstate solitary confinement at the troubled lockup.

The Corrections Officers’ Benevolent Association put out a new radio spot Thursday slamming City Council members who are pushing for a bill that would ban the punitive practice.

The first woman quoted in the ad recalls being “barely able to escape” when an inmate tried to rape her in the jail.

“While performing my duties, an inmate strangled me and attempted to rape me and I was barely able to escape,” said the officer, who has eight years on the job. “Councilmembers, what should happen to my assailant? He belongs in punitive segregation.”

The second woman in the recording recalled being sexually assaulted by inmates — before she was rescued by a co-worker.

“A group of inmates sexually assaulted me in a housing area,” said the woman, who has six years on the job. “And fortunately a fellow officer brought me to safety. Councilmembers, what should happen to my assailant? They belong in punitive segregation.”

Neither of the women are identified because of the nature of the assaults, a COBA spokesman said.

COBA president Benny Boscio said local elected officials were ignoring officers who have been assaulted by demanding that the city end solitary confinement.

“Far too often, many elected officials in our city fail to listen to the voices of our essential officers, who are brutally assaulted and in some cases, sexually assaulted, as they keep this city safe every day,” he said in a statement.

“Our message is crystal clear — if our City Council members are truly serious about confronting the jail violence epidemic, then we must retain the ability to separate violent inmates who assault our officers and non-violent inmates with impunity, otherwise known as punitive segregation. Everyone in our jails deserves to be safe!”

Since Jan. 1, 2021, about 1,500 correction officers have been assaulted, 22 sexually, according to COBA.

Adams has been in favor of reinstating solitary confinement at Rikers and has ripped into City Council members who support a ban.

The Legal Aid Society issued a statement last month calling on Adams to retract his plan.

“This proposal throws away years of progress undoing the physical and mental harms caused by solitary confinement, and it reveals the new Administration’s intent to reinstate regressive and violent policies over modern and more effective practices,” the statement said.

The battle over solitary confinement is raging at a time when officers have failed to show up for shifts, leaving critical guard posts unfilled and causing violent incidents to soar.

LETTER FROM BENNY BOSCIO
President

Welcome to the official website of The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA). COBA is the second-largest law enforcement union in the City of New York. Our members are New York City Correction Officers, also known as New York City’s Boldest, who supervise the second-largest municipal jail system in the nation. COBA is committed to advocating for safer working conditions, wage increases, and excellent benefits for all our members.

Our website was designed to provide helpful information on the latest issues impacting our members and their families. You can also find our official union publications, news clips, and learn about upcoming events.

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STATEMENT FROM COBA PRESIDENT BENNY BOSCIO ON THE FEDERAL MONITOR'S SPECIAL REPORT RELEASED ON MAY 26, 2023

“After being appointed nearly 8 yrs ago and receiving some $20 million in consulting fees by NYC taxpayers, the latest Federal Monitor’s biased and one-sided “special report” is no different than the nearly 36 reports that came before it.

If the Monitor is interested in cherry picking data in a two week period, why then does he exclude the brazen assaults on our officers committed by repeat violent offenders in that same period? Or why does he exclude the numbers of inmates whose lives have been saved thanks to Correction Officers? The reality is that the Federal Monitor and his team have strayed very far from their original mission and this new report conveniently excludes key data showing any progress that is being made to combat jail violence, which is largely the result of the dedication and hard work of our officers serving on the frontlines.

These reports now serve only to provide politically-driven talking points for the City Council and the Board of Correction so they can continue to second guess and scapegoat our members, instead of providing oversight over the monitoring team and asking them what have they really accomplished in eight years to make our jails safer? It’s time for the Monitoring team to go!’

Benny Boscio
COBA President