LA County Jail Shower Setup For 'Voyeuristic Sexual Gratification' Of Deputies, Lawsuit Alleges

LOS ANGELES, CA — Current and former inmates of an all-female jail facility are claiming constitutional deprivations caused by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies who allegedly subject them to frequent, prolonged and unobstructed viewing of their nude bodies as they shower, according to an updated complaint brought Friday in federal court.

The lawsuit, which names Los Angeles County, its sheriff's department and various LASD officials as defendants, alleges a longstanding policy of watching inmates in the showers for the purpose of male correctional officers' "voyeuristic sexual gratification."

The initial suit was filed in Los Angeles federal court in October by Dawn Thalacher and 37 other former or current inmates of the Century Regional Detention Facility, in Lynwood. The plaintiffs contend they were observed in shower facilities in the institution's general population area, high-power module and administrative segregation module, commonly known as "the hole."

The alleged "systemic and ongoing practice has become so widespread within the CRDF that there is a historically designated area adjacent to the shower stalls located in or around the administrative segregation module which is commonly referred to as the `cop shop' by both female inmates and correctional officers," the suit contends.

The area allows a "completely unobstructed view of the entire bodies of female inmates" and permits male officers to "make eye contact with showering female inmates," the complaint says.

In a statement sent to City News Service, LASD says it takes all allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority and violations of department policy extremely seriously and every such complaint is "thoroughly and objectively" investigated.

"The Department maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual abuse or harassment within its facilities," according to the statement. "There have been nine (Prison Rape Elimination Act) cases sent to either (the Internal Affairs Bureau) or (Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau). These cases are still being actively investigated. Once a criminal investigation is completed, investigators will present the case to the District Attorney's Office for filing consideration."

LASD said it has a mandatory education and awareness program to ensure zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The department stated it has implemented "clear protocols for reporting incidents of sexual abuse," ensuring that both inmates and staff can report concerns confidentially and without fear of retaliation.

"The safety, dignity and constitutional rights of every individual in our custody remain our top priority," the department said. "We are committed to transparent operations, thorough investigations and maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct."

Plaintiffs' attorney Brian Dunn alleges that while being escorted to shower facilities, female inmates are routinely subjected to "acts of non- consensual sexual abuse" by deputies who frequently walk behind the handcuffed females "so closely as to intentionally press their crotches and clothed genitalia" against the inmates' backsides and handcuffed hands, and even "fondle the inmates' hips, buttocks and bodies."

After arriving at the shower facility, the guard "routinely removes the female inmate's handcuffs and directs her into the shower stall, while clothed." The escort then directs the woman to remove her clothing in his immediate presence and under his constant and obvious observation, according to plaintiffs.

Once the shower begins, according to the lawsuit, male correctional officers have been known to intentionally set the water temperature at extremely hot levels, forcing inmates to move hurriedly and squirm erratically to avoid the pain generated from the hot water, "a further act of voyeurism undertaken exclusively for the sexual gratification" of LASD deputies viewing the showering female inmates, the suit alleges.

However, LASD maintains it holds personnel to highest standards, "and when there is evidence of criminal misconduct or violations of Department policy, individuals are held accountable."

By Fred Shuster, City News Service