A former corrections officer has admitted in a guilty plea that he failed to break up two assaults at Bayside State Prison.
Joshua Hand, 34, of Millville, pleaded guilty in Camden federal court on Monday to information charging him with depriving inmates of their civil rights, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.
Both assaults took place on the same day in December 2019 in the officers’ quarters of Bayside State Prison in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County.
In the first incident, a group of inmates entered the officers’ quarters, blocked the exit door and pinned another inmate down to the floor while punching him multiple times, court documents said. Hand witnessed the assault, did not intervene and failed to report it to supervisors or medical personnel, officials said.
Later that day, another inmate was in the officers’ quarters when a corrections officers struck him in the legs with a broomstick several times, authorities said. Hand also saw this assault occur and again did not intervene or report it to supervisors or medical personnel, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Attorney’s office did not provide details on Hand’s employment history with the Department of Corrections and whether he was terminated or resigned voluntarily. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections could not immediately locate his employment records.
Hand’s sentencing is scheduled for July 2.
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
