Current:Home > StocksSex abuse scandal at Northern California women's prison spurs lawsuit vs. feds -Wealth Evolution Experts
Sex abuse scandal at Northern California women's prison spurs lawsuit vs. feds
View
Date:2025-04-12 19:29:13
Survivors of sexual abuse by employees at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, in Northern California, have filed a class action lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, saying enough hasn't been done to stop the abuse.
Attorneys representing the eight survivors filed the lawsuit at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco.
"The Federal Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") has been aware of these problems for decades and has failed, and continues to fail, to take action to protect those in its care by preventing and addressing rampant staff sexual misconduct," the plaintiffs said in their filing. "In recent years, staff sexual abuse at FCI Dublin has been so severe that the facility became the center of a sprawling criminal investigation, multiple Congressional inquiries, and national media attention."
A scathing report by The Associated Press last year found that prisoners and workers at the all-women's facility had dubbed FCI Dublin "The rape club." The report found a permissive and toxic culture at the prison, enabling years of sexual misconduct, cover-ups and retaliation for inmates who tried to speak up.
"We're going to change history today," Robin Lucas, a plaintiff in the case, said at a news conference Wednesday about the lawsuit. "I'm so glad to have everyone here to understand our struggle, to embrace our hearts, our trauma, and we're going to kick in the door. These women will break the glass ceiling."
Eight former employees at the prison have faced criminal charges for abuse. Among them, former warden Ray Garcia, who was convicted late last year of molesting inmates and forcing them to pose naked in their cells.
Attorneys also said the agency has "long been aware of problems" at the facility, noting that three women who were assaulted at the prison in 1995 had filed a civil rights lawsuit and won a large settlement three years later.
"We cannot prosecute our way to a solution to the crisis at FCI Dublin," said attorney Amaris Montes of Rights Behind Bars, one of the groups representing the plaintiffs. "This isn't a case of a few bad apples. We need systemic change that ensures survivors are released and receive care and that promotes safety for all those remaining inside."
The lawsuit calls for the Bureau of Prisons to end retaliation against inmates reporting misconduct, immediately remove staff who have substantiated claims of abuse against them, ensure inmates' access to counsel, and conduct an audit, regular inspections and ongoing monitoring by a third-party organization.
In a statement to CBS News Bay Area, the Bureau of Prisons said it doesn't comment on matters of pending litigation, ongoing legal proceedings or ongoing investigations.
- In:
- Prison
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Assault
veryGood! (6)
Related
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- A conspiracy theorist set himself on fire outside of Donald Trump's hush money trial: cops
- Taylor Swift breaks Spotify records for most-streamed album, most-streamed artist in a single day
- Taylor Swift’s New PDA Video With Travis Kelce Puts Their Alchemy on Display
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Man dies after setting himself on fire near Trump trial courthouse in NYC. Here's what we know so far.
- Tori Spelling Shares She Once Peed in Her Son's Diaper While Stuck in Traffic
- California man goes missing after hiking in El Salvador, family pleads for help finding him
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- How Blacksburg Books inspires its Virginia community to shop local
Ranking
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- We're Making a Splash With This Aquamarine Cast Check In
- Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and American Idol alum, dead at 47
- 'CSI: Vegas' revival canceled by CBS after three seasons. Which other shows are ending?
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Man dies after setting himself on fire near Trump trial courthouse in NYC. Here's what we know so far.
- Taylor Swift fans speculate her songs are about Matty Healy and Joe Alwyn – who are they?
- Councilwoman chosen as new Fort Wayne mayor, its 1st Black leader, in caucus to replace late mayor
Recommendation
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates continue to climb as inflation persists, analysts say
Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans win play-in games to claim final two spots in NBA playoffs
'CSI: Vegas' revival canceled by CBS after three seasons. Which other shows are ending?
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?
Trump campaign, RNC aim to deploy 100,000 volunteer vote-counting monitors for presidential election
Run to Lululemon's We Made Too Much to Get a $106 Dress for $39, $58 Bra for $24 & More