No more prison pregnancies found

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- No more pregnancies were discovered among 535 female inmates in the state prison who were tested for pregnancy after one convict reported that a prison employee impregnated her, the state Department of Corrections announced Tuesday.

The inspector general's office is continuing its investigation of possible sex between prisoners and staff throughout the system.

The testing began after an inmate at the women's prison in North Las Vegas was found to be pregnant and she identified a correctional officer as the father.

The inmate, whose baby is due in January, was moved to the prison medical center in Carson City. DNA testing will be done after the birth to determine who the father is.

The prison is operated by Corrections Corp. of America, a private company under contract with the state.

Howard Skolnik, assistant director of the department, said Corrections Corp. fully cooperated in the testing.

Sex between an inmate and a staff member is a felony. The staff member accused of having sex with the inmate at the North Las Vegas prison has resigned.

About 750 women prisoners were given blood tests; those of child-bearing age who had not had hysterectomies were tested.

Scott Olifant, the attorney for the inmate who became pregnant, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He has said that a lawsuit will be filed.

The inmate pregnancy was the first in the state since 1975, Skolnik said.