Two mental-health counselors accused of being romantically involved with inmates under their care at New York City’s Rikers Island jail have resigned from their jobs, reports the New York Daily News.
The two counselors, identified by sources as Kristina Rodriguez and Nicole Menna, resigned from Corizon, an independent company hired by the city to provide services to Rikers’ inmates, according to the news outlet.
A spokesman at the city’s Department of Mental Health and Hygiene confirmed the resignations for the News.
“Concerns about the behavior of two employees were substantiated and they are no longer employed by Corizon,” the spokesman said.
Rodriguez, 30, reportedly fell in love with an inmate who is now free. She is said to be expecting a child. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts are replete with images of the couple, the report says.
“I have no comment,” Rodriguez told the News on Friday.
Menna, 32, a former mental-health clinician, reportedly became involved with inmate Afthab Chouddery, two former Corizon employees told the News. Chouddery, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last November, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the report says.
Corizon said it could not comment on specific personnel, but in an email, the company said its employees are held to the “highest professional and ethical standards.”
Read more at the New York Daily News.