Current:Home > FinanceInmates at Northern California women’s prison sue federal government over sexual abuse -MarketPoint
Inmates at Northern California women’s prison sue federal government over sexual abuse
View
Date:2025-04-15 10:25:45
OAKLAND, Calif. — Eight inmates at a San Francisco Bay Area lockup — dubbed the “rape club” by prisoners and workers alike — filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the federal Bureau of Prisons, saying sexual abuse and exploitation has not stopped despite the prosecution of the former warden and several former officers.
The lawsuit filed in Oakland by attorneys representing the inmates and the advocacy group California Coalition for Women Prisoners also names the current warden and 12 former and current guards. It alleges the Bureau of Prisons and staff at the Dublin facility didn’t do enough to prevent sexual abuse going back to the 1990s.
An Associated Press investigation last year found a culture of abuse and cover-ups that had persisted for years at the prison, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) east of Oakland. That reporting led to increased scrutiny from Congress and pledges from the federal Bureau of Prisons that it would fix problems and change the culture at the prison.
The Bureau of Prisons has failed to address rampant misconduct in its ranks and protect the safety of those in its care, said Amaris Montes, an attorney at Rights Behind Bars representing the plaintiffs.
“Individual prisoners have had to endure rape, groping, voyeurism, forced stripping, sexually explicit comments on an everyday basis and so much more,” she said.
The lawsuit seeks a third party to oversee the prison to ensure inmates have access to a confidential place to report abuse. It also asks that all victims be given access to medical and mental health care and legal counsel.
The plaintiffs, which are asking the court to certify the case as a class action, also want compassionate release for victims and for those who are living in the country illegally to be issued a “U visa,” a special visa program for victims of crime.
Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Donald Murphy said that the bureau does not comment on pending litigation or ongoing investigations.
In March, a judge sentenced former warden Ray J. Garcia to 70 months in prison for sexually abusing three female inmates and forcing them to pose naked for photos in their cells. Garcia was among eight prison workers, including a chaplain, charged with abusing inmates and the first to go to trial.
Montes said a sexual abuse culture persists at the low-security facility and inmates who report violations continue to face retaliation, including being put in solitary confinement and having all their belongings confiscated.
“We went to visit the prison yesterday and we heard additional stories of recent sexual abuse within this last week,” Montes said. “The BOP has tried to address individual officers and is trying to make it seem like it’s an issue of bad actors or bad apples, but it’s really a systemic issue.”
A former inmate at the federal facility said she was sexually abused by an officer who manipulated her with promises that he could get her compassionate release. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually abused unless they agree to be named.
She said she also witnessed the sexual abuse of fellow inmates and the retaliation against those who reported the officers’ misconduct.
She said she was incarcerated at the prison from 2019-2022 on a drug trafficking conviction. She said she was put in solitary confinement and lost all her belongings after her cellmate reported being abused.
“They were supposed to protect us because we were in their custody, but personally, I was abused and I saw officers abuse women, especially those who had been there longer. I saw them harassing them, grabbing, groping them,” she said in Spanish, her voice breaking.
veryGood! (38996)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- I went to NYC’s hottest singles run club. Here’s what it’s really like.
- Multiple failures, multiple investigations: Unraveling the attempted assassination of Donald Trump
- Forest fire at New Jersey military base 80% contained after overnight rain
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- The Best Amazon Prime Day 2024 Home Decor Deals You Need to Shop Right Now, Items Starting at $13
- Why Sheryl Lee Ralph Should Host the 2024 Emmys
- RNC Day 3: What to expect from the convention after push to highlight GOP unity
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Team USA Basketball Showcase: Highlights from US vs. Serbia exhibition game
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- 'Simone Biles Rising': Acclaimed gymnast describes Tokyo as 'trauma response'
- Syrian official who oversaw prisons with widespread allegations of abuse arrested by US officials
- After heavy June rains, a buildup of manganese is discoloring a Louisiana city’s water supply
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Shooting of homeless man near RNC probed; activists say 'blood is on city's hands'
- 100K+ Amazon Shoppers Bought This Viral Disposable Face Towel Last Month, & It's 30% Off for Prime Day
- John Deere ends support of ‘social or cultural awareness’ events, distances from inclusion efforts
Recommendation
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Why Ryan Reynolds Gave Away His Deadpool Salary to Colleagues on Set
Jon Jones fights charges stemming from alleged hostility during a drug test at his home
RNC Day 3: What to expect from the convention after push to highlight GOP unity
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
A man is convicted on all counts in a shooting that wounded 9 people outside a bar in Cleveland
Sleep Your Way to Perfect Skin: These Amazon Prime Day Skincare Deals Work Overnight & Start at $9
Not Sure How To Clean a Dishwasher or Washing Machine? These Pods Are on Sale for $13 & Last a Whole Year