An Essex County corrections officer says she was targeted as part of a bogus investigation after the death of an inmate, which she said had nothing to do with her.
Idesha Howard filed a lawsuit in Superior Court on Monday against Essex County, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Correctional Facility and several correctional facility employees.
Spokespeople for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the county executive said they do not comment on pending litigation.
Howard said she worked in the auxiliary department, was assigned work based on the correctional facility’s needs and was a union representative.
On Aug. 28, 2018, the night of the death, Howard said, she was directed to report to housing unit 2D3, which was fully staffed and had another correctional officer scheduled to provide meal breaks, the lawsuit said. Howard said the meal break officer was given a different assignment and she was assigned to cover meal break relief.
According to the lawsuit, Howard was required to “tour” the area where inmates were in cells every 30 minutes and there were some inmates under electronic observation by the medical team. The lawsuit said a large monitor in the desk area allowed Howard to observe the inmates in the cells. She said she monitored the five cells with cameras every 15 minutes except when taking the tour of the cells.