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Arizona worker safety agency reviewing prison rape

By WTOP Staff

BOB CHRISTIE
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona’s workplace safety agency confirmed Thursday that it has launched a review of the rape of a teacher inside a state prison classroom.

The teacher was alone in the room with no guard nearby when a convicted rapist assaulted her, documents state.

The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health review comes a week after a report by The Associated Press highlighted concerns about how the Jan. 30 assault occurred.

The agency said the review was launched as a result of those reports about the rape at the Eyman state prison southeast of Phoenix.

The review doesn’t mean there will be a full investigation, agency spokeswoman Rachel Brockway said.

The agency can’t give the state Department of Corrections notice that it plans to investigate, and if the agency does proceed, it is barred from discussing it unless a citation is issued and no litigation is underway, Brockway said.

The Department of Corrections did not report the assault to ADOSH. It is only required to report incidents in which there is a fatality or more than three people are hospitalized.

Corrections spokesman Bill Lamoreaux said the department will cooperate and assist with any investigation and is always reviewing its security policies to ensure staff are safe.

Spokesman Doug Nick previously said there were no security issues at the prison but said officials are now adding cameras in prison classrooms. Nonguards statewide were issued pepper spray in the weeks following the assault, but Nick said that had already been planned.

The attack occurred at the prison’s Meadows Unit, which houses about 1,300 rapists, child molesters and other sex offenders. The teacher was administering a high school equivalency test to about a half-dozen inmates in a classroom with no guard nearby and only a radio to summon help.

The Department of Corrections issued only a bare-bones press release after the attack, but the AP pieced together what had happened based on interviews and investigatory reports obtained under the Arizona Public Records Act.

The teacher told investigators that inmate Jacob Harvey lingered in the class as the other inmates left, then asked to use the bathroom before stabbing her with a pen, forcing her to the floor and sexually assaulting her. She said she screamed for help but none came.

After the attack, reports say Harvey tried to use her radio to call for help. It had apparently been changed to a channel the unit’s guards didn’t use, so Harvey let the woman use a phone, according to the reports.

A former deputy warden at the prison, Carl ToersBijns, said the assault highlights chronic understaffing and lax security policies that put staff members at risk.

State prison officials, however, dismiss the concerns. They say assault is a risk that comes with the job of overseeing violent prison inmates.

The state safety agency can issue citations if it finds the prison violated worker safety laws. It can also consult with prison officials on how to improve safety standards.

The teacher was treated and released from a hospital after the assault and has filed a workers’ compensation claim. The AP does not usually identify victims of sexual assault and she did not want to comment on the case.

Harvey, 20, was charged last month with sexual assault, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. A public defender was appointed, and Harvey pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The public defender assigned to his case has declined to comment.

Harvey was in the first year of a 30-year sentence for the brutal home invasion rape of a suburban Phoenix woman in 2011.

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Follow Bob Christie at http://twitter.com/APChristie .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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