Private Prison Company Can Be Held Liable for Rapes, Court Rules

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled this week that a private prison company can be held liable for three female inmates who were raped by a guard, The Associated Press' Morgan Lee reports. The Corrections Corporation of America was found liable for $3 million in damages.

That award is on appeal to the Tenth Circuit. The federal circuit court certified a legal issue to the New Mexico Supreme Court on whether the prison operator could be found liable when the employee was aided in committing the rapes due to his job position. The state court ruled affirmatively on the question.