Philly Prison Guard Violated Inmate's Constitutional Rights, Feds Say

PHILADELPHIA — A former correctional officer in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons has been federally charged with violating the constitutional rights of a prison inmate, authorities said Friday.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said Ivory S. Cousins, 35, of West Deptford, New Jersey, was arrested and charged by indictment with violating the constitutional rights of a prison inmate.

Authorities allege Cousins ignored the inmate's significant injuries suffered in an assault by other inmates, pepper sprayed him, helped another inmate to steal from him, and obstructed the investigation into what happened to him.

According to the indictment, Cousins was a correctional officer employed by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons in August 2019.

While on duty at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, authorities said Cousins learned an inmate was assaulted by other inmates and had serious injuries, but that Cousins was deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs, failed to get him medical attention, and prevented a superior officer from discovering the inmate’s injuries.

After her partner discovered the injured inmate and called for medical attention, but before assistance arrived to escort him to the medical unit, the indictment alleges that Cousins subjected the injured inmate to excessive force, namely that she "unreasonably" pepper sprayed him.

When the inmate was escorted out of the area for medical attention, authorities allege Cousins further violated his constitutional rights by helping one of the inmates involved in his assault to steal his personal belongings from his cell.

When she filed a report about the incident, Cousins provided false information about the injured inmate being aggressive, engaging in a fight, and using a weapon, according to authorities.

Cousins faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 41 in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1 million fine, and a $400 special assessment.