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Discrimination Complaint Against Bureau of Prisons Settled

A discrimination complaint filed by a Mexican-American female employee of the Bureau of Prisons was settled in August 2001.

Maria Elena Carnera, a Mexican-American woman, was employed as a prison guard at Metropolitan Correctional Center New York when she filed her discrimination complaint. Carnera alleged that she was terminated in September 18, 1997 for falsification of employee documents, relating to her resignation from Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn, prior to accepting an offer at MCC New York. Carnera had previously stated that she resigned from MDC Brooklyn for personal reasons.

When pressed by Warden Dennis Hasty to explain those personal reasons, Carnera related discrimination problems she had experienced at MDC Brooklyn. According to Carnera's complaint, Warden Hasty laughed while she explained the problems that had led to her resignation from MDC Brooklyn. Carnera was ultimately fired from her position at MCC New York.

The parties settled Carnera's complaint on August 8, 2001. The Bureau of Prisons paid Carnera $12,500.00 in attorney's fees, reinstated her as a GS-6 employee in the Health Services Department at MCC New York, and agreed to allow her to rent an apartment in MCC New York staff housing. The settlement agreement did not involve any admission of fault or liability by the Bureau of Prisons and was to be kept confidential.

The documents from this discrimination case were obtained by Prison Legal News after a twelve-year-long battle with the Bureau of Prisons over a Freedom of Information Act request.

See: EEOC Case No. 160-99-8537X, BOP Agency Case No. P-98-9433.

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Related legal case

EEOC Case No. 160-99-8537X