The U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BoP) has agreed to pay $115 million to over 100 survivors of sexual abuse and misconduct at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin in California, marking a historic financial settlement in the agency’s history, The Guardian‘s Sam Levin reported today.
The settlement is a victory for incarcerated survivors of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse. The survivors fought for accountability after enduring years of pervasive abuse at the now-shuttered women’s prison, infamously referred to as the “rape club.”
The payout resolves 103 claims of sexual abuse and retaliation brought by current and formerly incarcerated individuals. It follows years of litigation that exposed systemic misconduct at the Bay Area facility, where prison staff routinely sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, and retaliated against inmates who reported abuse.
Widespread Abuse and Retaliation at FCI Dublin
Located east of Oakland, FCI Dublin became notorious for its widespread culture of abuse. Reports of misconduct first surfaced publicly in 2021, revealing an environment where inmates suffered sexual assault and harassment at the hands of those tasked with their care. Women who came forward described not only the abuse but also retaliation, including threats, unjust disciplinary actions, and solitary confinement for speaking out.
Over the past two years, seven former employees, including the warden and chaplain, have been criminally convicted of sexually abusing incarcerated women. More than 20 other employees were placed on leave and remain under investigation.
In 2022, former chaplain James Theodore Highhouse was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting at least one female inmate and engaging in predatory behavior with others between 2014 and 2019. Last year, Ray J. Garcia, the prison’s former warden, was sentenced to 70 months for sexually abusing inmates and lying to the FBI to cover up his misconduct.
The pattern of abuse at FCI Dublin revealed systemic failures within the Bureau of Prisons, prompting widespread condemnation from advocates, attorneys, and federal officials.
A Groundbreaking Settlement
The $115 million settlement represents a turning point in addressing sexual abuse within federal prisons. According to attorneys for the plaintiffs, the agreement is believed to be the largest monetary payout in BoP history. It underscores not only the severity of the abuse at FCI Dublin but also the broader, systemic nature of the problem.
A 2022 U.S. Senate inquiry found that staff had sexually abused inmates in at least two-thirds of federal women’s prisons over the previous decade. The report exposed cases of women being abused for months or even years, often without intervention.
In addition to financial compensation, the settlement coincides with a proposed consent decree, negotiated as part of a related class-action lawsuit. The decree extends protections to nearly 500 women, many of whom were transferred to other federal prisons after Dublin’s closure.
Key Reforms in the Consent Decree
The consent decree aims to address the ongoing mistreatment of incarcerated survivors. Under the agreement, the Bureau of Prisons will implement the following reforms:
- External Monitoring and Reporting: The BoP will be subject to continued outside monitoring to track and report staff misconduct, abuse, and retaliation. Regular public reports will be released to ensure transparency.
- Trauma Recovery Services: Survivors will have access to community-based counselors to help them heal from the abuse.
- Limits on Solitary Confinement: The use of solitary confinement for low-level disciplinary charges will be restricted to prevent retaliation against those who report abuse.
- Home Confinement and Community Programs: Eligible plaintiffs will be expedited to home confinement or community programs “as soon as practicable” to ensure their safety and well-being.
Ongoing Challenges for Survivors
Despite the closure of FCI Dublin, survivors continue to face challenges. Many women transferred to other federal prisons have reported ongoing retaliation and difficulty accessing trauma recovery resources.
Additionally, advocates have highlighted the specific risks faced by non-citizen survivors, who were particularly vulnerable to abuse and now face deportation risks.
Voices of the Survivors
The survivors of FCI Dublin’s abuse have been at the forefront of the fight for justice. Aimee Chavira, who endured abuse at the prison and has since been released, spoke out about the settlement:
“We were sentenced to prison, we were not sentenced to be assaulted and abused,” Chavira said. “I hope this settlement will help survivors, like me, as they begin to heal – but money will not repair the harm that BoP did to us, or free survivors who continue to suffer in prison, or bring back survivors who were deported and separated from their families. And money will not stop prison officials from continuing to abuse incarcerated people.”
Susan Beaty, a senior attorney with the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and co-counsel in the class-action lawsuit, echoed the sentiment:
“We’re hopeful that these funds will provide survivors some stability and resources to heal and rebuild their lives. I’m very aware that there is no amount of money that could heal the wounds people suffered at Dublin.”
BoP’s Acknowledgment and Responsibility
In response to the settlement, BoP spokesperson Randilee Giamusso confirmed that a neutral third party was used to allocate funds to the plaintiffs:
“The [BoP] is dedicated to appropriately addressing the consequences of sexually abusive behavior at FCI Dublin. The [BoP] remains committed to rooting out unlawful behavior and holding accountable those who violate their oath of office.”
This statement comes as the Bureau of Prisons faces increased scrutiny over its handling of misconduct and abuse allegations across the federal prison system.
The Path Forward
While the $115 million settlement and consent decree marks significant progress, advocates stress that much work remains. Survivors and their attorneys will continue monitoring BoP’s compliance with the consent decree and pushing for broader systemic reforms.
For many survivors, the settlement is a step toward justice but not a complete resolution. As Chavira and others have emphasized, no amount of money can undo the harm inflicted on the women at FCI Dublin.
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