State prison system settles four harassment cases in 18 months

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's Department of Corrections over the past 18 months has paid $177,500 to settle sexual-harassment cases brought by former female workers.

The four claims that were settled involved prisons in Cameron, Chillicothe, Jefferson City and Fulton, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday. At least two other cases are pending.

Attorneys for the women say the agency's culture and policies encourage the harassment, citing a "code of silence" among prison guards, smear campaigns against those who complain and an inadequate grievance process.

Gary Kempker, Missouri's corrections chief, counters that although the male-dominated organization faces a "special challenge" in battling sexual harassment, problems are handled aggressively and involve a tiny percentage of the agency's 11,300 employees.

"It's unfortunate when one or two people can give us all a black eye," he said. "I will tell you, one case is too many."

Women make up about one-third of the 5,764 officers in the 21 prisons and two release centers. Most of the women work in the entry-level job classification; women hold only about 16 percent of the supervisory jobs, including sergeants and lieutenants.

While saying he cannot discuss specific cases, Kempker said the department takes all complaints seriously. All employees undergo basic training that includes guidance about sexual harassment, and the department also conducts refresher courses and recently distributed a training video on sexual harassment "to get the point across that it's absolutely unacceptable," he said.

"If it occurs, we're going to take action," he said. "I think we have a good record."

From 2000 to last year, the department says, 20 employees have been disciplined for sexual harassment. Three were fired, one was reprimanded and the rest were suspended without pay for three to 10 days.

The department's policy says employees should report any harassment, and it charges supervisors with taking corrective action.

"Not only do we want you to come forward, but you have a responsibility to come forward," Kempker said.

Kristi Kingston of Kansas City, an attorney for one of the women who sued, called the department's policy flawed, saying it threatens discipline -- including termination -- for those who file false complaints.

"It does seem the department does everything to deter the complaints rather than correct the misconduct," Kingston said.