Photo credit: Federal Correctional Institution, Aliceville. (2024, November 10); Wikipedia.
Two Bay Area attorneys, Susan Beaty and Kara Janssen, are bringing attention to systemic abuse and retaliation within federal prisons following the closure of FCI Dublin in April. The pair, who filed a class action lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), have been visiting women formerly incarcerated at Dublin who have since been transferred to federal facilities across the U.S. Litigation reporter Brian Lee at Law.com spotlighted the case, Lisa Fernandez of FOX affiliate KTVU reported Tuesday.
Ongoing Abuse and Retaliation
During a recent visit to FCI Aliceville, a low-security prison in Alabama, Beaty and Janssen interviewed 60 women and uncovered disturbing allegations of abuse. Beaty reported that many of these women face retaliation for coming from FCI Dublin and for speaking out against the staff misconduct there. She described hearing allegations of rape and sexual assault by Aliceville guards, some of whom continued to work at the prison months after the accusations.
The closure of FCI Dublin followed a high-profile scandal involving sexual abuse, where seven staff members were convicted of sex crimes, and an eighth awaits trial. Despite this, Beaty emphasized, “Dublin was not an aberration. These same patterns are happening in other facilities and in other prisons.”
Bureau of Prisons Response
BOP spokesperson Benjamin O’Cone stated that the agency “strongly condemns all forms of sexually abusive behavior” and emphasized steps taken to address allegations, including mass interviews, intelligence reviews, and staff training at Aliceville. However, Beaty and Janssen contend these measures have not adequately addressed systemic problems, citing recurring patterns of abuse and retaliation.
The lawyers also visited women incarcerated in other federal facilities, including SeaTac in Seattle and FCI Waseca in Minnesota, where women reported being placed in isolation for minor infractions and lacking access to mental health services. Women in federal detention in Miami reported not having access to direct sunlight.
The Bigger Picture
The systemic nature of abuse and retaliation underscores broader failures within the BOP. Beaty highlighted that women who report abuse are often disbelieved, placed in solitary confinement, and further punished, while accused officers remain on duty and continue offending.
Beaty and Janssen have filed a report of their findings with U.S. District Court in Northern California and are collaborating with Special Master Wendy Still, who oversees the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit. However, Still’s oversight is limited as complaints now stem from prisons across the country.
The attorneys are working to connect their clients with local advocacy groups and resources in the regions where they are incarcerated. They are also urging Congress to hold the BOP accountable. “What happened in Dublin was horrific,” Beaty said, “but it’s important to understand that these abuses are not isolated incidents.”
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