Court records were not available Friday, but the Attorney General's office released the names and birth dates of those charged.
The following former RCI correctional officers were charged with second-degree assault: Robert Harvey, 62; Scott Boozel, 28; Tim Mellott, 22; Keith Morris, 26; Lucas Kelly, 29; Reginald Martin, 38; Michael Morgan, 39; Dustin Norris, 24; and Tyson Hinkle, 33.
The following former North Branch officers were charged with second-degree assault and conspiracy to commit an assault: Jason Weaver, 35; Richard Robinson, 36; Sherman Jones, 39; Kenneth Platter, 36; Tony Nery, 42; and Ryan Dolan, 28.
The Herald-Mail reported in 2008 about a series of firings amid excessive force allegations in connection with alleged assaults at the state prisons.
In April 2008, 15 officers were fired from RCI, a medium-security prison, and eight were fired from North Branch.
Two additional RCI officers were fired but later reinstated.
At least two injured inmates were involved in separate incidents before the excessive-force allegations that led to the terminations, prisons spokesman Mark Vernarelli has said.
One RCI inmate was found injured during the weekend of March 8, 2008, and was hospitalized. Prison officials have said that incident might have been connected to a March 6, 2008, assault by inmates on officers.
At least one inmate at North Branch, who had been at RCI, alleged he was a victim of excessive force, Vernarelli has said.
In November 2008, Allegany County State's Attorney Michael O. Twigg and Washington County State's Attorney Charles P. Strong Jr. announced they sought the attorney general's involvement in the investigation.
A North Branch lieutenant who was fired in April 2008 amid allegations of excessive force was reinstated by an administrative law judge in December 2008.
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services spokesman Rick Binetti declined to comment Friday afternoon about the criminal charges.
This case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's Criminal Division. The Maryland State Police and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services' Internal Investigative Unit assisted in the investigation.
