Galveston Prison Officers Placed on Leave Amid Assault Probe

Officials say that two correctional guards at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility in Galveston have been put on unpaid leave as investigators look into claims of sexual abuse involving female inmates.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced the action after an allegation from March in which a female inmate told hospital staff that two policemen had sexually abused her. The agency claimed that both officers are no longer on duty while criminal and administrative investigations are going on.

A TDCJ representative said in a statement, "The agency takes all claims of sexual assault seriously and starts an investigation right away."

Authorities also revealed a second claim made after the March incident, which was linked to an earlier event at the start of the year. TDCJ said that the case involved three officers, one of whom was named and two of whom were detailed by the detainee.

Investigators found that at least two of the officers listed in the earlier claim are also the ones involved in the March report. Those cops have also been put on leave until the investigations are over.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) officials did not disclose the identities of the accused officers or provide any further information about the claims because the investigations are still ongoing.

The organization stressed that there are already measures in place to keep detainees safe, such as requiring male officers to never be alone with female convicts and requiring officers to never search inmates of the opposite sex when they are naked.

The spokeswoman replied, "To protect the population, the agency does not allow male officer(s) to be alone with a female inmate."

TDCJ said it will also review the Galveston facility's procedures and operations to determine whether any additional safety measures are needed in light of the claims.

Investigators are still looking into the claims about the correctional hospital, which provides medical care for offenders in the state system. They want to find out how true and wide-ranging the claims are.

There is no set date for when the investigations will be over.