Key Takeaways
- SCI Cambridge Springs corrections officer James Morris was arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.
- Prosecutors allege Morris sexually assaulted an incarcerated woman on multiple occasions at SCI Cambridge Springs.
- Survivors of sexual abuse in correctional facilities may have civil legal options against the facility.
James Morris, SCI Cambridge Springs Corrections Officer, Faces Numerous Assault Charges
Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution (SCI) Cambridge Springs corrections officer, James Patrick Morris, is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after authorities accused him of sexually assaulting an incarcerated woman.
According to Erie News Now, Morris was charged with:
- 1 count-Institutional Sexual Assault – F3
- 1 count-Criminal Attempt – Institutional Sexual Assault – F3
- 1 count-Aggravated Indecent Assault Without Consent – F2
- 1 count-Aggravated Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion – F2
- 1 count-Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion – M1
- 1 count-Indecent Assault Without Consent – M2
- 1 count-Criminal Attempt – Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion – M1
- 1 count-Criminal Attempt – Indecent Assault Without Consent – M2
- 1 count-Indecent Exposure – M2
He has been suspended without pay by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections pending the outcome of the case.
What Are the Allegations Against James Morris?
On March 31, 2026, James P. Morris was arraigned on the charges listed above.
According to Go Erie, “The investigation was launched after state police received a report filed through the Prison Rape Elimination Act, according to the release.”
The woman had reported the incidents after she had been transferred to State Correctional Institution Muncy.
James Patrick Morris allegedly sexually assaulted the woman on three separate occasions during July 2025 while she was incarcerated at SCI Cambridge Springs.
She “told police that the alleged assaults each occurred in the early morning when she was sleeping in her cell. The woman described being groped and told police that on the third occasion Morris exposed himself and grabbed her before leaving when her resistance again created a commotion.” (Go Erie)
Morris’s bail conditions have been updated so that he cannot be within fifty feet of the woman. His trial is set to be scheduled for September 2026, according to the most recent reporting.
Andreozzi + Foote’s Experience Representing a Survivor from SCI Cambridge Springs
In 2024, Andreozzi + Foote filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a former inmate alleging she was sexually assaulted by a correctional officer, Alfonzia Newsome, at SCI Cambridge Springs, and that the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and several individual officials and employees failed to protect her. The lawsuit also alleged deliberate indifference and failures to comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Newsome later pleaded guilty in 2025 to institutional sexual assault and related offenses.
Both the previous case involving Newsome and the current case involving Morris underscore the importance of correctional institutions responding promptly to reports of sexual abuse and taking meaningful steps to protect those in their custody.
As attorney Veronica Hubbard said in connection with the firm’s previous Cambridge Springs litigation, “‘No person in custody should be subjected to such heinous acts, and the institutions responsible must be held accountable.’”
Legal Help for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Correctional Facilities
Sexual abuse in a correctional facility is never acceptable. Individuals who are incarcerated retain fundamental rights, including the right to be free from sexual abuse and exploitation. When facilities fail to uphold that duty, survivors may have legal options.
If you or someone you know was sexually abused by James Morris or another corrections officer while incarcerated at SCI Cambridge Springs or another correctional facility, our firm is here to help you.
Our trauma-informed attorneys represent sexual abuse survivors in Pennsylvania and across the United States and offer free, confidential consultations to help you understand your rights and legal options.
Contact us today.
Image source: SCI Cambridge Springs Security Housing, via Dooconsulting.
