Former Arizona juvenile corrections employee sues state over harassment

PHOENIX — A former Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections employee is suing the state for what she said was years of sexual harassment from coworkers.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday with the Arizona U.S. District Court alleges that the woman, who worked for the agency from early 2015 to mid-2017, was often subjected to sexual comments.

According to the lawsuit, coworkers at the Adobe Mountain School, a rehabilitation program near Pinnacle Peak Road and Interstate 17, repeatedly asked the woman about her breast size.

The suit also alleges a male coworker asked her to send him nude photos and a supervisor told her she couldn’t transfer to a better position because a male employee there wanted to have sex with her.

The woman reported these comments to supervisors, but nothing was done, she said.

She also said in the lawsuit that coworkers failed to support her when she was severely injured by an inmate on the job, and the state failed to preserve evidence of the incident and prosecute the inmate.

The lawsuit alleges she suffered anxiety, fear, depression, lack of sleep and loss of self-esteem due to the harassment.

According to the lawsuit, the woman resigned due to her peers’ misconduct. Four months later, she file a charge of discrimination against the state.

The suit asks the court to award the woman damages and issue an injunction to prevent the agency from committing similar acts.

The agency said in an email to KTAR News 92.3 FM it will not comment on pending litigation.

[newsletter][/newsletter]

Related

Scottsdale police commander sues city over 'retaliatory' firingPedestrians hit by vehicle in west Phoenix, leaving 1 dead and 1 injuredSchnepf Farms adds new attractions for Pumpkin & Chili Party376-unit apartment complex proposed near IKEA in south TempeNearly 30 adaptive athletes learn basketball skills in Phoenix thanks to Suns/Mercury Foundation37 years later, DNA technology identifies man killed by train in Arizona