— A shocking prison security failure is under investigation after a male inmate managed to crawl through a maintenance passageway and enter the women’s wing of a correctional facility, where he attempted to sexually assault a female prisoner.
The Breach
According to prison officials, the male inmate used a poorly secured maintenance duct to bypass barriers separating the men’s and women’s units. Surveillance footage captured him crawling through narrow passages before emerging inside the women’s housing block.
He then approached a 29-year-old woman who was in the common area. Guards rushed to the scene after hearing screams and stopped the attack before further harm could be done.
The Victim
The woman, whose name has not been released for her safety, received immediate medical treatment and counseling. Advocacy groups have condemned the prison’s negligence, stressing that incarcerated women — many already survivors of abuse — deserve stronger protections.
Prison Response
Prison administrators admitted “a catastrophic security lapse” and launched an emergency audit of all structural vulnerabilities. Several correctional officers are under review for failing to notice the breach until it was nearly too late.
“This was a preventable tragedy,” said a spokesperson for a national prison reform group. “Women in custody must be protected from male inmates at all costs — the system failed here.”
Legal Consequences
The male inmate, already serving time for violent offenses, now faces new charges including:
- Attempted sexual assault
- Escape within a correctional facility
- Criminal trespass into a restricted area
Prosecutors have indicated they will seek a maximum sentence, which could keep him behind bars for life.
Wider Debate
The case has reignited debates about prison design, overcrowding, and inmate supervision. Critics argue that budget cuts and understaffing create conditions ripe for abuse, while victims’ advocates demand sweeping reforms to protect vulnerable women in custody.
“This should never have been possible,” said one lawmaker. “Every gap, every tunnel, every failure of surveillance must be fixed — now.”
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