The Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into allegations of systemic sexual abuse by correctional staff at Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino, operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The inquiry, confirmed in a statement obtained by U.S. Attorne's Office, aims to ascertain if constitutional protections against sexual abuse are being upheld for the incarcerated women at these facilities.

U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert from the Eastern District of California emphasized the imperative to ensure that inmates in state prisons, which abound in the Eastern District, are treated in accordance with Constitutional standards. On the brink of a state court trial involving accusations of widespread sexual assaults by a former officer at the Central California Women’s Facility, the Justice Department's probe sets in motion amidst hundreds of private lawsuits. Having reportedly engaged in sexual favors in exchange for contraband and privileges, the correctional staff named in these allegations spans various ranks and includes individuals designated to handle complaints of sexual abuse.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke pointed out the severity of the issue, stating, "No woman incarcerated in a jail or prison should be subjected to sexual abuse by prison staff who are constitutionally bound to protect them." According to a U.S. Attorney's Office announcement, Clarke further affirmed that every woman, including those in prison, retains inherent civil and constitutional rights deserving of dignified and respectful treatment.

In March, a State-established working group, comprised of advocacy groups and community-based organizations published a report, revealing deep-seated cultural deficiencies in how staff sexual abuse is addressed, including an unsafe and inaccessible reporting process, paired with a lack of accountability for staff. The allegations include forcible rape and penetration, groping, oral copulation, along with threats of violence and punitive abuse, outlined in a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 incarcerated women at the California Institution for Women, dating from 2014 to 2020.

The investigation, as per the Justice Department's declaration, will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, designed to rectify systemic rights infringements within institutional setups like prisons. While no conclusive findings have been made yet, justice officials have dispatched notifications to California state authorities, engaging in a collective effort with the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys' Offices for California's Eastern and Central Districts. Information from people with relevant insights is sought by the department, encouraging them to step forward with knowledge that could fuel the ongoing investigation.