The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into allegations of systematic sexual abuse of incarcerated women by correctional officers at two state-run California prisons, the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated that it does not tolerate sexual abuse in its prisons and welcomes the investigation.
The investigation was prompted by numerous lawsuits over the past two years, with allegations including rape, groping, forced sexual acts, and threats of violence against women at the facilities. The Justice Department stated that correctional staff were accused of exchanging sexual favors for contraband and privileges, and some of those accused were responsible for handling sexual abuse complaints.
Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department, stated that no incarcerated woman should be subjected to sexual abuse by prison staff. California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Jeff Macomber emphasized that sexual assault is intolerable in the prison system.
In the wake of the investigation, the Bureau of Prisons announced the closure of a women’s prison in Northern California known for rampant sexual abuse by correctional officers. The Justice Department provided a hotline (1-800-656-4673) and online chat service through the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network for individuals seeking help for sexual assault.
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