Inmates at the scandal-plagued Bay Area women’s prison known as the “Rape Club” have reached a historic settlement that recently closed the facility, and about 500 inmates will be transferred from the facility to federal prisons across the United States. monitoring and protection will be strengthened.
In August 2023, eight inmates at the Federal Correctional Facility in Dublin filed a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Prisons on behalf of individuals incarcerated at the facility, claiming they suffered widespread sexual abuse and medical neglect. A class action lawsuit was filed against the company. and retaliation by the guards.
Now, the Bureau of Prisons has agreed to enter into a consent decree protecting the rights of about 500 class members who remain incarcerated in more than a dozen federal prisons.
The consent decree requires strict monitoring of staff abuse and retaliation, medical care, early release credits, and timely release of inmates to nursing homes. The bill was filed in court Friday morning and, if approved, would require court oversight of its implementation for the next two years.
“This settlement is historic. It is the first time in BOP history that consent decrees mandate supervision in more than a dozen federal women’s prisons across the country,” attorney Amaris Montez, representing the class members, said in a statement. Ta. “This reflects the lived reality of the class participants in this case. FCI Dublin’s problems are not unique to that facility, and the BOP has failed people in its custody across the country.”
Under the agreement, class members will no longer be placed in solitary confinement for minor disciplinary offenses and will be guaranteed timely disciplinary proceedings to prevent retaliation by corrections officers. They will also have a confidential means to report abuse and violations of consent laws.
In addition, the Bureau of Prisons will restore early release credits for FCI Dublin transfers and expunge invalid disciplinary actions by Dublin employees to ensure class members do not lose the opportunity for early release.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Prisons, Colette Peters, will also issue a formal apology to survivors of sexual abuse by staff at FCI Dublin. In Dublin, more than half a dozen prison officers and former wardens have been charged or convicted of sexually abusing prisoners.
In March, a federal judge found that people held at FCI Dublin were at continued risk of abuse, granted an injunction and appointed a special inspector general to oversee the prison. This will be the first external monitor in history.
A few days later, Peters announced that authorities would be closing the facility. At the time, Peters said the closure could be temporary.
Approximately 500 inmates have since been transferred to other federal prisons across the country, where they continue to face inhumane conditions, class members say.
Mr Peters announced on Thursday that the closure of FCI Dublin would be made permanent, citing staffing shortages and the huge costs of repairing aging infrastructure.
“Currently and formerly incarcerated people in Dublin have fought long and hard for this victory,” Griselda Muniz, a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement about the settlement. “Now, the BOP must abide by the agreement for those still in custody. They have the right to heal from traumatic events with their loved ones, so ultimately we will protect them.” I hope he can return home.”
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