Contra Costa Inmate Assaults Prison Psychologist

FOLSOM – A staff psychologist was recovering Friday after being attacked by an inmate who was admitted to the state prison from Contra Costa County, officials said. Sacramento state prison officials said Edjuan Scott repeatedly punched a psychologist in her mouth Thursday morning.

The blows knocked the psychologist backward, causing her to strike her head on the ground and lose consciousness. Responding staff used physical force to stop the attack, officials said in a press release.

The psychologist regained consciousness and was transported to an outside hospital, received four stutures to her lip and is currently awaiting the results of additional tests. Her injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, officials said.

Scott will be placed in the prison’s administrative segregation unit as the incident is investigated. He was treated for minor injuries, including a scratch to the back of his head, officials said.

Scott, 34, was admitted from Contra Costa County on June 21, 2012, to serve a sentence of life with the possibility of parole for second-degree robbery with the use of a firearm, evading police, attempted murder of a peace officer, discharging a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is currently scheduled to be released January 2115.

The Sacramento state prison is a high-security prison that houses approximately 2,100 general population inmates and employs about 1,700 people.

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