Inside the Reality of Female Inmate Abuse: A Survivor’s Prison Story

Female inmate abuse is rampant in many women’s prisons. Amber Martens recounts her first experience with it.  

Amber Martens will never forget her first experience with prison violence—an incident that involved both a fellow inmate and a correctional officer. Her story exposes the brutal reality of incarceration, especially for women navigating dangerous environments without adequate protection.

“I can’t see! It burns! I didn’t hit back!” I screamed, dropping to my knees in the prison dayroom. My arms were outstretched, eyes sealed shut and burning, tears and mace dripping down my face. I was disoriented, terrified, and bleeding—unsure whether another attack was coming or if I’d be dragged to segregation alongside my attacker.

Just weeks into her sentence, Amber thought she was finding her rhythm in general population. But June 13—her mother’s birthday—would mark the beginning of a nightmare she never saw coming.

Targeted by Inmates and Ignored by Officers

The tension started days before the assault. Amber’s cellmate (or “bunkie”) and her girlfriend were caught in their cell during morning rounds. Suspicion fell on Amber, who was accused of “snitching.” A subsequent shakedown uncovered contraband hooch, deepening hostility toward her. As a newcomer to prison life, Amber didn’t yet understand how fast rumors—and threats—escalate.

“You need to get out of the room or I’m going to do what I have to do,” her bunkie warned during the 4:00 p.m. count. That phrase—do what I have to do—was clear prison code for an imminent physical assault.

Amber stood her ground, refusing to back down or retaliate. She sought help from unit officers and counselors, asking to be moved. Her requests were ignored.

The Night of the Assault

By 9:00 p.m., her bunkie was boiling over. She threatened to file a PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) complaint against Amber—an abuse of the system meant to protect vulnerable inmates. In response, Amber decided to file her own PREA report. Officers told her to wait in the dayroom. From there, she watched her bunkie get cuffed and removed.

That should have been the end. But it wasn’t.

“I was sitting in shock when I felt a blow to the back of my head. Before I could react, she slammed me to the ground and started punching me—over and over. My glasses shattered. My face was being tenderized like meat.”

As Amber tried to shield herself, she repeated one mantra: Don’t hit back. You want to go home. Ryen and Owen are all that matter.

Officer Misconduct and Medical Neglect

The officers eventually intervened—not by stopping the beating, but by deploying pepper spray. Amber, already wounded and defenseless, took the brunt of it.

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“The mace was unbearable. My face burned. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see. And still, I sat there in the dayroom for hours without medical attention.”

A nurse briefly attempted to check her vitals but left when another emergency pulled them away. No further care was provided. Amber was returned to her unit without being treated for her injuries.

The Lingering Scars of Prison Violence

Back in the unit, she found temporary relief in an unlikely place: MSI soap—cheap indigent soap used for washing dishes—was the only thing that soothed the mace burns. But the damage was done.

“My right eye was swollen shut. My face was blackened and bruised. I looked like I had lost a prizefight, but the worst pain wasn’t physical.”

Amber tried to secure her door with a plastic chair wedged under the sink. The doors didn’t lock. There was no real safety. She crawled into bed, aching, vulnerable, and deeply shaken.

“One tear slid down my cheek. It hit me: I won’t leave here without scars. Not just the bruises—but the trauma. The fear. The betrayal. These mental wounds will take the longest to heal.”

The Broader Problem of Female Inmate Abuse

Amber’s story is far from unique. Across the U.S., thousands of incarcerated women face daily threats of inmate violence, sexual coercion, and correctional officer neglect. Systems like PREA, designed to protect, are often misused or ignored entirely.

The trauma inflicted in prison doesn’t end at the gates. For survivors like Amber, telling the truth is the first step toward healing—and accountability.

The post Inside the Reality of Female Inmate Abuse: A Survivor’s Prison Story first appeared on Prison Writers.