Inmate Files Extortion Class Action Against New Jersey DOC, Battery Vendors Over Power Cord Rule Change

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The New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC), an administrator and two vendors/contractors are the defendants in a handwritten proposed class action lawsuit filed by an inmate housed in the Edna Mahan Correction Facility (EMCF) for Women in Clinton. The inmate’s case revolves around a supposed rule change allegedly implemented by the defendants to enforce the discontinued use of adapters or USB cords to power tablets, a move the plaintiff claims forces inmates to buy shotty batteries from the defendants and amounts to extortion. From the lawsuit:

“On or around July 2016, the EMCF prison officials enforced a rule change without notice to the inmate population to discontinue the use of the tablet adapter or USB cord. This forced the inmate population to purchase AA batteries at $4.00 per pack. The employees-vendor/contractor have been overcharging for the batteries and/or selling the inmate population batteries that only last for 4 hours to 2 days since 2016 . . .”

The plaintiff argues power cords and USB adapters pose no security threat. Additionally, the plaintiff asserts that many indigent inmates simply cannot afford to purchase batteries, or even music, the purchase of which by inmates’ families was also reportedly disallowed by the defendants in July 2016.

Among the relief sought by the plaintiff is court approval allowing inmates to continue to use adapters or USB cords, an amendment to the policy that allows inmates’ families to purchase music, and reimbursement of $3.14 each for inmates who purchased battery packs.