ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 10: A general view of Fulton County Jail building during "Masks For The People" Initiative at Fulton County Jail on July 10, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. The "Mask For The People" initiative kicked off in Atlanta, donating over 300 masks to inmates at Fulton County Jail. The program is designed to donate over 70,000 masks to the essential front line workers, elderly residents, incarcerated individuals, and protestors during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
A Georgia detention officer has been arrested and charged with improper sexual conduct with an inmate, Georgia authorities reported on Wednesday.
Katana Jenkins, who has been employed at the Fulton County Detention Center since 2019, was busted for the crime after officials discovered a contraband cellphone, where an explicit video of Jenkins and an inmate was saved, according to WSB-TV.
Authorities expressed outrage after viewing the lewd video clip, and claim that Jenkins had an ongoing long-term relationship with the prisoner.
Jenkins reportedly even went so far as to give the unnamed man the contraband cellphone that had been used to record the illicit tryst.
She’s been charged with two counts of improper sexual contact by an employee or agent, five counts of violation of oath by a public officer, two counts of reckless conduct, two counts of cruelty to inmates, and one count of giving an inmate a prohibited item (cellphone) without authorization.
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat condemned Jenkins in an statement provided to the press.
“As Sheriff of Fulton County, I am committed to transparency and to holding each and every employee accountable to oath they have taken to protect and serve our community.”
Sheriff Labat went on to say that Jenkins’ actions “are certainly not a reflection” of the other jail guards and employees.
“The actions of this one individual are certainly not a reflection of the men and women of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The vast majority of employees are to be commended for their integrity, commitment to service and the work they do day in and day out.”
The judge presiding over the case has since granted the suspect bond, the outlet reports. Jenkins, whose case is remains ongoing, made her first appearance in court this week.
Jenkins may be the latest detention officer to get caught having a relationship with a prisoner, however she’s certainly not the first.
Brenda Smith, a law professor who fights against the exploitation and abuse of inmates, tells NBC News that such relationships are actually “very common.”
However, she added that such trysts are disturbing due to the power imbalance between inmates and officers.
Mitchell ended up helping the pair escape from the maximum security prison and was sentenced to seven years herself for her role in the incident.
