Photo credit: US Bureau of Prisons
Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) submitted testimony to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism for its hearing, “Sexual Assault in U.S. Prisons Two Decades After the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA),” per a news release from the congressman.
His testimony focused on the history of sexual abuse at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, which is in DeSaulnier’s district, as evidence that further reforms are necessary to protect inmates. This follows a letter sent by Congressman DeSaulnier, Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA), and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) demanding answers regarding the mishandled closure of FCI Dublin, the mistreatment of inmates during their transfers to other facilities, and BOP’s mismanagement of investigations into staff-on-inmate abuse at FCI Dublin and other BOP facilities.
In his testimony, Congressman DeSaulnier stated, “Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, which until April was one of the few women-only federal correctional facilities in the United States, highlights the many flaws of PREA. For years, women incarcerated at FCI Dublin reported staff sexual misconduct to prison officials and independent agencies, yet the abuse persisted. In 2022, an Associated Press investigation exposed a culture of rampant sexual misconduct and cover-ups at FCI Dublin… The facility is now facing class action litigation, and over 100 survivors of staff sexual assault have filed claims for damages.”
He continued, “In June, Senator Laphonza Butler, Chair Dick Durbin, 18 other members of Congress, and I sent a letter to the BOP requesting information on the closure of FCI Dublin. Our intent was to determine if the sudden closure was an effort to avoid accountability and transparency, whether the closure was planned with respect to the rights of the abuse victims, if the facility complied with court orders, and what steps BOP has taken to prevent similar cultures of abuse in other facilities. It has been more than 100 days, and the Bureau has yet to respond. I am deeply troubled by BOP’s apparent disregard for its obligations to Congress and the federal courts, and I am concerned that neither the abuses at FCI Dublin nor the mandates of PREA have been handled with the seriousness they demand.”
DeSaulnier emphasized, “For PREA to achieve its goal of eliminating prison rape, inmates must have truly independent avenues to report abuse, along with strong protections against retaliation. Additionally, the federal government must ensure that facilities meet their legal obligations under PREA, with significant consequences for those that fail to comply.”
He concluded, “I look forward to continuing our work with both chambers of Congress to strengthen PREA and safeguard the civil rights of incarcerated individuals, allowing them to focus on rehabilitation and successful reintegration.”
In addition to the letter to BOP, DeSaulnier has advocated for those affected by abuse at the facility by meeting with attorneys representing inmates, hearing from whistleblowers, visiting the facility to assess conditions, and urging FCI Dublin to fulfill its constitutional obligations to provide access to legal counsel and essential healthcare services for survivors of sexual abuse. He also sent letters to Attorney General Garland regarding FCI Dublin’s closure and PREA implementation, as well as to the House Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability Committees, urging investigations into the closure, the facility’s history of abuse, and the broader treatment of inmates at BOP facilities.
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