A former corrections officer with the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, Marcus Bias, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for assaulting a handcuffed inmate.
Bias pleaded guilty in March to violating the civil rights of the inmate under his care. According to court documents, the incident occurred in June 2019 when Bias shoved the head of the unidentified detainee, J.W., into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the correctional facility.
J.W., who was already in handcuffs and reportedly subdued after being subdued with pepper spray, suffered injuries requiring medical attention.
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“This defendant had a duty to treat people in his custody humanely,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a statement. “Like any other law enforcement officer, the defendant had a duty to protect the constitutional rights of anyone who was in his care and custody,” echoed U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia.
The incident sparked outrage and an investigation by the FBI. The sentencing reflects the seriousness with which the Justice Department views such violations of civil rights.
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“Today, Marcus Bias was sentenced for violently injuring an inmate and violating their civil rights,” said Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability for those entrusted with the care of vulnerable populations.
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