Alleged Sexual Abuse Of Female Inmates At IE Prison Sparks DOJ Inquiry

CALIFORNIA — Following serious allegations of sexual abuse of inmates by corrections officers at two California state prisons — including one in Chino — the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday it has opened an investigation into conditions at the facilities.

The DOJ said "significant justification" exists to question conditions at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino.

The prisons are operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber said in an emailed statement that his agency welcomes the federal inquiry.

"Sexual assault is a heinous violation of fundamental human dignity that is not tolerated — under any circumstances — within California’s state prison system. Our department embraces transparency, and we fully welcome the U.S. Department of Justice’s independent investigation," Macomber said.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada's office and investigators in the Eastern District and the Civil Rights Division are looking into conditions at the two prisons "to determine whether California is meeting its constitutional obligations to incarcerated persons," according to Wednesday's announcement.

"Sexual abuse and misconduct will not be tolerated in prisons," Estrada said.

"No woman incarcerated in a jail or prison should be subjected to sexual abuse by prison staff who are constitutionally bound to protect them," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "Every woman, including those in prison, retains basic civil and constitutional rights and should be treated with dignity and respect. California must ensure that the people it incarcerates are housed in conditions that protect them from sexual abuse."

In Wednesday's DOJ announcement, the federal agency said women have filed hundreds of private lawsuits in the past two years alleging officer sexual abuse of inmates at the Central California Women’s Facility over the last decade, ranging from allegations of inappropriate groping during searches and genital rubbing to forcible rape.

Similar allegations are reported in a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 women incarcerated at the California Institution for Women, according to the DOJ.

Additional allegations include correctional staff at both facilities seeking sexual favors in return for contraband and privileges, the DOJ reported.

In March, a working group established by the state and composed of advocacy groups and community-based organizations published a report to the California Legislature that identified "longstanding cultural deficiencies in addressing staff sexual abuse, including an unsafe and inaccessible reporting process and the absence of staff accountability," according to the DOJ.

In January, the Los Angeles Times reported that more than 100 former Chino and Chowchilla inmates joined in a lawsuit against the CDCR and its current and ex-correctional officers. The women allege they were abused in prison.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for sexual assault, battery, negligence, infliction of emotional distress and violations of civil rights.

The alleged abuse stretches back more than a decade, according to the report.

For its part, the CDCR claims it treats every sexual assault allegation with "the utmost seriousness, conducting thorough investigations and partnering with independent law enforcement agencies to prosecute those who have committed sexual assault."

Conditions have improved, according to the state agency. For example, it's now easier for inmates to confidentially report sexual assault and misconduct without fear of retaliation. Additionally, CDCR has deployed body-worn cameras and fixed-audio surveillance systems at both the California Institution for Women and Central California Women’s Facility, and support systems are in place for victims.

U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California said concern about the physical safety of people inside California women’s prisons is not new.

"Media coverage, state audits, advocates’ efforts and private litigation have sought to draw attention to an issue often unseen by many in the community," he said. "This investigation responds to those concerns ... ."

The California Institution for Women in Chino currently houses 1,286 inmates.

The Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla is the largest female institution in the state. It currently houses 2,084 inmates.