Jail officer fired after being caught on camera having inappropriate relationship with inmate
Topics: US News, Crime, Sex and Relationships
Daisy Phillipson
Featured Image Credit: Fox5
Topics: US News, Crime, Sex and Relationships
A jail officer has been fired after being caught on camera having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.
Kawana Jenkins had been working at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, as a detention officer since 2019 where it was her responsibility to monitor and maintain the facility and its inmates.
But this all changed earlier this year following a shakedown which saw workers visiting cells and digging through prisoners' belongings.
According to an arrest warrant seen by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, cops discovered some rather damning footage on one of 11 contraband cellphones that were confiscated.
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Authorities were said to have seen at least two videos of Jenkins engaging in explicit acts with a male inmate.
In one clip, which has circulated online, she can be seen laying back in an office chair before licking and sucking on his finger. Another shows her sitting on his lap while licking and kissing his face.
After the discovery was reported to Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, the 36-year-old was fired and arrested.
She now faces a number of charges including two counts of improper sexual contact by employee or agent, five counts of violation of oath by a public officer, two counts of reckless conduct and two counts of cruelty to inmates.
There's also a charge of giving an inmate a prohibited item without authorization, relating to the fact that Jenkins is accused of gifting the convict the phone that was confiscated.
Labat has publicly condemned the actions of the disgraced jail officer, telling reporters: "As Sheriff of Fulton County, I am committed to transparency and to holding each and every employee accountable to oath they have taken to protect and serve our community.
"The actions of this one individual are certainly not a reflection of the men and women of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
"The vast majority of employees are to be commended for their integrity, commitment to service and the work they do day in and day out."
Jenkins was charged at her workplace and granted a $135,000 bond on Tuesday, March 21. It's not known what her punishment will be, as the investigation is currently ongoing.
This isn't the first relationship scandal between an inmate and prison officer has unfolded.
Last year, 27-year-old Kayla Mae Bergom was arrested on three counts of sexual misconduct after having sex with a prisoner while working at Tama County Jail in Iowa.
The inmate in question was a 29-year-old man and the incidents were said to have occurred in the prison's utility closet and recreation yard, as stated by a complaint registered against Bergom.
Explaining the nature of such relationships, a 2005 report from the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General stated: "Even if a sexual act would have been considered consensual if it occurred outside of a prison, by statute it is criminal sexual abuse when it occurs inside a prison.
"For example, staff sexual abuse can corrupt prison staff and lead to other dangers, such as staff smuggling drugs or weapons into prison facilities for inmates."