JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A female corrections officer was beaten and raped Thursday morning by an inmate in the law library on the fifth floor of the Duval County jail, Sheriff John Rutherford announced.
The veteran officer was beaten, threatened and “viciously sexually assaulted” by Jonathan Tave, who was in jail awaiting trial for a 2005 homicide, according to the sheriff’s office.
“He armed himself with some type of shank and used that to overcome the officer and then sexually batter her,” Rutherford said. “She was punched and beaten, as well as (the prisoner) using the shank.
Although the inmate had a shank — a makeshift knife — Rutherford said she was not stabbed.
Tave, 26, is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 230 pounds. He was taken into custody without resistance after the incident.
The victim, a 29-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities said her injuries were serious, but not life-threatening.
Rutherford said the victim worked in the library and regularly assisted prisoners with legal research. She carried standard correctional officer equipment — pepper spray, handcuffs and a radio.
“I think this is an indication of the type of people we house in our pre-trial detention facility, and the kind of danger our corrections officers, men and women, face every day,” Rutherford said.
Tave was awaiting trial on charges of murder, premeditated murder, arson, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, and battery on detention officer. He will now face additional charges.
Rutherford said they were shocked by the violence of the attack and would examine policy, but his first impression was that no procedures were violated.
Source: News4Jax
At this point, details are rather vague. What we know is that the perp was a very, VERY bad young man, as well as a very large and strong young man. When he gets to court, nothing he could do to the corrections officer would make his eventual sentence more severe as he is already facing life in prison or the death penalty, so he has little to lose from an assault/rape charge.
From the news reports, there appears to be very little hands on escorting of the prisoner(s), relying on remote monitoring, electronic door locks, etc. However, the law library where the corrections paralegal/officer worked was (per news report) not monitored.
I’d be as outraged if a grandfather had been severely beaten and raped as a grandmother under these circumstances; I believe that somebody with a past that bad and with such serious charges against him should not have been allowed free access to the law library in an unmonitored situation where only one unarmed paralegal/guard was on duty that had been a corrections officer longer than the perp had been alive and was presumably much weaker than the perp.
Additional information here:
A1A South 
Sayjack said,
April 17, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
Hello,
Your comment at the end of the article is interesting but vague. Are you an employee of a prison or jail and trying to make a point about how rules and regulations are not followed, or are you a private citizen making an observation? I asked because I work in a state facility and male inmates are routinely supervised by female staff all day long. One could certainly debate the issue of allowing female staff to work in a male facility. But as far as this article goes, it’s just another example of the dangerous environment Correctional Officers work in. And by the way, if you think only female staff can be raped, think again! It’s a crazy world behind those bars and walls.
Thanks,
Sayjack
swampie said,
April 17, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
You’re right, my comments were too vague. I commented, then decided to put the comment up at the top, and do a little explanation here.
As a 5’9″ woman who works out with weights, I know that I’m stronger than the average woman, but not as strong as the average man, particularly not one that is taller, heavier, younger, and more muscular. At that point, an equalizer is needed, but the younger, stronger perp had the equalizer in the form of a shank.
I don’t think any corrections officer, male or female, should be in an unmonitored area alone with a large man with charges as serious as his when he hasn’t (I’m presuming, from him having been armed with a shank) been searched for weapons before he entered.
If no procedures were violated, then I think the procedures need to be changed.
HELLOWORLD said,
August 12, 2012 @ 2:16 pm
I found your comment right on point understanding every word you said
I work in a maximum security prison
everyone goes through the same training
things happen
especially when you have people expecting to be sentenced to life or the death penalty
they don’t give a shit
for that matter many of them don’t give a shit
but as employees we do
we are not forced to take this job
we put our lives in jeopardy everyday
we know this and still do it anyway
shiz happens
as far as the other guy’s comment
you are correct
male inmates do rape eachother
less inclined to rape male officers
female inmates rape eachother too
you have no idea
the prison worl is off the hook lady
peace out….
swampie said,
April 17, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
I’m a private citizen making an observation; however, I have experience from the law enforcement side but left long ago to raise a family, the hours not being exactly family friendly.
My sympathies are on the side of the corrections officers. Some of the folks in there are people that have made stupid mistakes under the influence of strong emotions or substances; many are vicious, amoral scum that the world would be better off without.
Gigi said,
April 18, 2008 @ 5:05 am
I have come to the realization that jail facilities are not 100% secure. I am a female correctional officer myself and this past week I had a struggle with an inmate who is also charged with murder. These inmates are opportunists, sick minded, and some do not have any remorse of their actions. Just this week this same inmate masterbated in an open kitchen area and then when I counseled him about his behavior he ran and tried to attack me. I never let him get too close and deployed my pepper spray to stop him. I read this story and my ❤ heart goes out to this officer emphasizing that could have been me. We correctional officers risk our lives but it is a death trap when the department overlook the safety issues until something bad happens.
May God be with her!
lil red said,
April 18, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
I to am a female corrections officer. We tend to get secure in our setting and let our guard down. We become complacent to the point that we have just put ourselves in harms way. I know I have personally escorted an inmate that raped and murdered a young woman recently. I was nervous which put me on edge, but it’s when they don’t attack and they see that we are feeling less and less nervous to be around them that they attack. They have 24/7 to think of ways to hurt others. My facility does not allow any inmate to be unescorted. So thank God for little favors. May God protect her and her family right now. And I pray that it raises the awareness of those she works with.
Jen said,
June 23, 2012 @ 5:37 am
I was/am thinking seriously of becoming a CO, but I’m really starting to wonder if this is a good idea. I’m pretty built, but that doesn’t anything if the a**hole has a shank. Its not even just this article, its the fact that I know CO’s, and their biggest gripe is the fact that these throwaways run the place. If there are any CO’s looking at this, any advice or input as far as is it even worth it, would be welcome.
HELLOWORLD said,
August 12, 2012 @ 2:18 pm
become one and find out
co’s come in all sizes, shapes, colors and personalities
good money and benefits
you have to know how to manage your sttitude or they will come after you when you least expect
go for it bro
HELLOWORLD said,
August 12, 2012 @ 2:19 pm
peace out baby….