2 Women Impregnated By Fellow Inmate At Embattled NJ Women's Prison

UNION, NJ — Two women inmates are pregnant after having consensual sex with a transgender inmate at the embattled New Jersey women's prison Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County.

This is the latest debacle to hit the jail after multiple prison officials were charged in connection with women inmates being severely beaten and sexually assaulted. Read More: NJ Women's Prison Plagued By Sex Abuse Of Inmates To Be Reformed

The New Jersey Department of Corrections confirmed that two incarcerated persons at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility are pregnant, NJDOC Public Information Officer Chris Carden told Patch.

"NJDOC is actively investigating both circumstances, and at this time, the investigation suggests that the two pregnancies resulted from consensual sexual relationships with another incarcerated person," said Carden.

When asked if any penalties will be enforced on the inmates, Carden said the NJDOC could not "comment on any specific disciplinary or housing decisions that may be considered in light of these events, however, all measures are being taken to ensure the health, safety and security of all individuals at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility."

The two pregnancies raise multiple questions and issues regarding what will happen to the babies once born? Who will care for them? And how to properly house inmates with different sexual identities?

Gov. Phil Murphy said on Monday at an unrelated press conference that the facility having trouble with properly segregating prisoners is one of the many reasons he ordered the jail to close in June 2021. Read More: NJ Prison Closing After Women Inmates Were Beaten By Guards

"Part of the reason to close it, and there are many sadly, is the inability to segregate populations based on incidences or behaviors. And that's on the long list of reasons why it has to be closed and that's in process," said Murphy.

A report recently released the convictions of the three inmates involved in the consensual sex, which is not allowed in the facility. Those convictions include murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated manslaughter, according to nj1015.com.

Troubled History

The issues with the facility came to light in January 2021 when reports of women inmates being severely beaten at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women began to crop up. Read More: 3 Officers Charged After Women Inmates Beaten At NJ Prison

Since then about 20 correctional officers have been charged including five this past December. Read More: 5 More Face Charges After Women Inmates Beaten At NJ Prison

An investigation was also launched by Murphy to look into violent attacks reported on Jan. 11 and 12 at the women's correctional facility.

These attacks included one inmate who was pepper-sprayed before five correctional officers entered her cell. She was then reportedly punched with a closed fist about 28 times in the face area while she was pressed against the cell wall. The woman had serious bodily injuries including a concussion and facial injuries. Read More: 3 Officers Charged After Women Inmates Beaten At NJ Prison

Following the scathing investigation into the abuse, New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks announced his resignation on June 8, 2021. Read More: Head Of NJ Prison Resigns After Reports Of Women Inmates Beaten

Most recently in January 2022, Murphy selected Victoria Kuhn as the new Commissioner to take charge of all New Jersey prisons. Read More: New Head Of NJ Prisons Chosen Amid Reports Of Inmate Abuse

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