Despite the headlines surrounding the now-closed Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin, there are other California women’s correctional facilities that have violated the civil rights of the incarcerated. Both the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino are currently under investigation by the Justice Department for widespread allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct by correctional staff, according to a DOJ press release from last month.
Both prisons under investigation are run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) prisons. After a thorough review of publicly available data and insights from key stakeholders, the DOJ determined there is sufficient evidence to warrant the investigation. The inquiry will assess whether CDCR is adequately protecting incarcerated women at these facilities from sexual abuse by correctional staff.
“No woman incarcerated in a jail or prison should be subjected to sexual abuse by prison staff who are constitutionally bound to protect them,” stated Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Every woman, including those in prison, retains basic civil and constitutional rights and should be treated with dignity and respect. California must ensure that the people it incarcerates are housed in conditions that protect them from sexual abuse. This investigation will determine whether California is meeting its constitutional obligations.”
Concerns over the safety of women in California’s prisons have been longstanding, noted U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Media coverage, state audits, advocates’ efforts and private litigation have sought to draw attention to an issue often unseen by many in the community. This investigation responds to those concerns and will aim to ensure that California is meeting its constitutional duty to incarcerated individuals.”
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California emphasized, “Sexual abuse and misconduct will not be tolerated in prisons.” Estrada added, “Together, with our colleagues in the Eastern District and the Civil Rights Division, my office will thoroughly investigate the conditions at Central California Women’s Facility and the California Institution for Women to determine whether California is meeting its constitutional obligations to incarcerated persons.”
In recent years, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by women incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility, alleging sexual abuse by correctional officers over the past decade. These allegations range from inappropriate groping during searches and genital rubbing to forcible rape. This week, a state trial is set to begin involving a former correctional officer accused of widespread sexual assaults at the facility.
A separate civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of 21 women at the California Institution for Women, detailing allegations of forcible rape, groping, oral copulation, and threats of violence from 2014 to 2020. Correctional staff at both facilities reportedly traded contraband and privileges in exchange for sexual favors. Some officers implicated in these allegations were responsible for handling sexual abuse complaints filed by incarcerated women.
In March, a state working group comprised of advocacy organizations released a report to the California Legislature highlighting ongoing cultural deficiencies in addressing staff sexual abuse, including an ineffective reporting process and a lack of staff accountability.
The Justice Department has informed California officials of the investigation, which will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act(CRIPA). This law grants the department authority to investigate systemic violations of incarcerated individuals’ rights.
The investigation is being led by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern and Central Districts of California. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department at 1-888-392-9490 or by email at Community.CAWomensPrisons@usdoj.gov.
For more information on the Civil Rights Division’s work regarding correctional facilities, visit www.justice.gov/crt/rights-persons-confined-jails-and-prisons.
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