The U.S. government has agreed to pay $116 million to over 100 women who suffered abuse at California's now-closed Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, nicknamed the "rape club" for widespread sexual misconduct. On average, each of the 103 plaintiffs will receive $1.1 million under settlements finalized Tuesday. These agreements coincide with a judge's preliminary approval of a class-action settlement requiring reforms in federal prison facilities, including the appointment of an independent monitor.
"We were sentenced to prison, we were not sentenced to be assaulted and abused," said former inmate and plaintiff Aimee Chavira. While the Settlement aids healing, Chavira emphasized, "Money will not repair the harm that BOP did to us...or bring back survivors who were deported and separated from their families."
The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) issued a statement condemning sexual abuse and pledging improved protections for inmates. However, the lawsuits outline a pervasive culture of abuse at FCI Dublin. Among the cases, a transgender former inmate accused ex-warden Ray Garcia of molestation and coercion with drugs, while another inmate alleged her supervisor, Ross Klinger, engaged in sexual acts with her, including post-release encounters. Safety administrator John Bellhouse was accused of assaulting an inmate and dismissively saying, "If it's not on camera, then you're beat," when she reported the abuse.
Garcia, convicted in 2022, is serving a 70-month sentence for abusing three inmates. Klinger and Bellhouse also received prison sentences for their crimes. Since 2021, eight FCI Dublin employees have faced charges, highlighting systemic issues within the BOP. Attorney Deborah Golden called the settlements "a searing indictment of our entire prison system's failure to confront its longstanding abuse crisis."
In response to these revelations, President Biden signed legislation in July to strengthen oversight of the BOP. The agency agreed to changes, including monitoring the treatment of nearly 500 ex-Dublin inmates and issuing a public acknowledgment of the abuses. The BOP announced the permanent closure of FCI Dublin following a security assessment, denying a direct connection to the settlements.
Link: Stocktonia
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