APNewsBreak: Report assails NYC jail's sex abuse response
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - This Jan. 28, 2016 file photo shows a solitary confinement cell at New York City's Rikers Island jail. An internal report finds New York City's Rikers Island jail has entrenched problems responding to sexual abuse complaints. The troubles cited include emergency hotlines that don't work, confidential complaints read by fellow inmates and investigations that don't interview alleged attackers. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File) (The Associated Press)
An internal report finds New York City's Rikers Island jail has entrenched problems responding to sexual abuse complaints. The troubles cited include emergency hotlines that don't work, confidential complaints read by fellow inmates and investigations that don't interview alleged attackers.
The review, obtained by The Associated Press, comes as a jail oversight board moved last week to write new city rules in line with a federal law that mandates zero tolerance for rapes behind bars.
A city Department of Correction spokeswoman says the report was a "wake-up call." She says in the past year officials have trained hundreds of guards and investigators, updated internal jail policies and appointed a department-wide coordinator on complying with the federal act.