The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that it is investigating allegations of staff sexual abuse at two California prisons: the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino.
The department found “significant justification” for launching a civil rights investigation after reviewing publicly available information and information from advocates, according to federal officials.
Over the last two years, women have filed hundreds of private lawsuits accusing officers of sexually abusing inmates at the Central California Women’s Facility over the last decade, including allegations of inappropriate groping during searches, genital rubbing and forcible rape.
A civil lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 women incarcerated at the California Institution for Women included allegations of forcible rape and penetration, groping, oral sex and threats of violence and punishment with abusive conduct between 2014 and 2020. Correctional staff in both facilities reportedly exchanged contraband and privileges for sexual favors.
“This investigation will examine whether the state violates the constitution by failing to protect people incarcerated at these two facilities from staff sexual abuse,” Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke said.
According to the DOJ, the accused correctional officers range in rank and include the staff members directly responsible for handling complaints of sexual abuse made by incarcerated women at the two facilities. The names of the accused individuals were not released.
Clarke said that a recent government survey showed that incarcerated women are three times more likely than to be sexually abused by prison or jail staff. Research also indicated that the female prison population is expanding at as much as twice the growth rate of men.
The facilities, both of which are operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, house over 3,000 female, transgender and nonbinary inmates combined.
The California Department of Corrections could not be immediately reached for comment. Officials at the two facilities also could not be reached either.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern and Central Districts of California are conducting this investigation under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.
“Every woman, including those in prison, retains basic civil and constitutional rights and should be treated with dignity and respect,” Clarke said. “California must ensure that the people it incarcerates are housed in conditions that protect them from sexual abuse.”
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