BOP Correctional Officer Indicted and Arrested for Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and False Reporting

On June 22, 2023, a BOP Correctional Officer assigned to the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested following an Indictment charging him with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsification of records.  Justin Newkirk was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia.  According to the Indictment, on or about March 17, 2022, Newkirk subjected an inmate to cruel and unusual punishment when he repeatedly sprayed the inmate with pepper spray without a legitimate penological purpose.  Also according to the Indictment, on or about the same day Newkirk then falsified his incident report, by falsely stating that the inmate lunged at him with closed fists and by lying about how many times he sprayed the inmate with pepper spray.  The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Atlanta Area Office.