DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lawyer for a female prison guard suing Iowa for sexual harassment says the Department of Corrections practice of allowing violent inmates to watch sexually graphic movies encouraged prisoners to harass and threaten her.
Kristine Sink’s attorney, Paige Fiedler, told jurors in closing arguments Thursday that Sink tolerated threats of rape and murder. She is seeking up to $4.5 million for emotional distress.
Sink says supervisors at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison allowed harassment by inmates and co-workers.
Assistant Iowa Attorney General Tyler Smith, representing the state, says showing the movies was wrong but officials dealt appropriately with Sink’s issues, which he called no worse than other guards faced.
A jury of four men and four women heard testimony over nearly three weeks and has begun deliberating.
