Judge approves settlement for abuse at secretive prison
A judge on Tuesday granted final approval for a legal settlement tackling issues of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse at a now-closed federal women’s prison in California. The settlement mandates independent monitoring and increased transparency for the federal Bureau of Prisons. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland endorsed the agreement, despite a last-minute request by the Trump administration to modify protections for transgender and non-citizen inmates.
The consent decree mandates oversight of the treatment of approximately 500 former inmates from the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, who are now housed in various federal prisons across the country. It also includes provisions for early release, home confinement, and a formal public acknowledgment of abuse by the Bureau of Prisons.
Former Dublin inmate Kendra Drysdale emphasized the importance of the consent decree in ensuring the safety and protection of fellow inmates. FCI Dublin, now closed, is being considered for repurposing as an immigration detention facility.
The judge rejected the Bureau of Prisons’ request to renegotiate the agreement to exclude protections for transgender and non-citizen inmates, citing the importance of upholding the negotiated settlement. Under the consent decree, inmates are guaranteed gender-affirming accommodations and protections against discrimination based on immigration status.
The consent decree, to be effective from March 31, will be overseen by a court-appointed monitor. The judge approved a delay in implementation to allow the Bureau of Prisons to address key vacancies and administrative changes necessary for compliance with the agreement.
An investigation revealed a history of abuse and cover-ups at FCI Dublin, leading to charges against multiple employees for sexual abuse of inmates. The settlement agreement emerged from negotiations between lawyers for former Dublin inmates and the Bureau of Prisons, seeking to address systemic issues within the agency related to women’s treatment and abuse allegations.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed to pay nearly $116 million to settle lawsuits filed by over 100 women who allege abuse and mistreatment by FCI Dublin staff. The women are set to receive an average of approximately $1.1 million each. As part of the proposed settlement, the plaintiffs will have continuous and confidential access to a court-appointed monitor, legal representatives, and community-based counselors to report any instances of abuse or potential violations of the consent decree.
The monitor will have the authority to interact with the women, as well as the staff and records at FCI Dublin, and will provide monthly public reports highlighting key findings on various issues such as staff misconduct, retaliation against inmates, medical care, and adherence to early release regulations. Additionally, the agreement includes safeguards against retaliation, including a prohibition on the Bureau of Prisons placing incarcerated plaintiffs in a special housing unit – a form of solitary confinement – for minor disciplinary infractions.
Furthermore, the agency is mandated to review and expunge any unjust disciplinary reports issued by FCI Dublin staff, which may have been employed as a means of punishment or to silence inmates. These erroneous reports, if not rectified, could impede an inmate’s chances of early release or placement in a halfway house. Under the terms of the agreement, the agency must promptly transfer eligible plaintiffs to halfway houses and home confinement. Additionally, the agency is obligated to reinstate any early release credits that inmates may have forfeited upon their transfer from FCI Dublin.
