NJ Prison CO Allegedly Had Sex With Inmate Under Her Custody

NEWARK, NJ — A corrections officer at a New Jersey state jail allegedly had sex with a prisoner under her custody and carried out an “ongoing romantic relationship” with the inmate, prosecutors said Friday.

Avril D. Richardson, 45, of Elizabeth, was charged with second degree sexual assault for engaging in sexual conduct with an inmate at Northern State Prison in Newark, where she was employed as a senior correctional police officer, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office stated.

Richardson was arrested Thursday at her Elizabeth home. She was detained at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark but was scheduled to be released Friday, prosecutors stated.

“It is alleged that starting in 2016 until her arrest, Richardson had an ongoing romantic relationship with the victim,” prosecutors said.

The alleged relationship came to light due to joint investigative efforts from the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards Bureau.

Richardson is due back in court on Jan. 11, 2019, prosecutors said.

According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Northern State Prison is located on 43 acres in Newark and houses a "diverse offender population" in General Population, Special Needs, Administrative Close Supervision units (inmates who have incurred serious disciplinary charges) and Therapeutic Community units (addictive behaviors).

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