Justice Department to shut down California women’s prison

A federal women’s prison with a recent history of sexual abuse allegations is closing its doors permanently. The Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif., is not meeting expected standards, Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette S. Peters said in a statement provided to WORLD on Monday. The prison has attempted to address issues with workplace culture and employee misconduct, but the Bureau of Prisons has decided the best course of action is to shut down the facility, Peters said.

Why is this happening? Peters did not reference the allegations directly, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation began looking into sexual abuse claims at the prison in 2020, according to a local media report. In August 2023, at least eight inmates filed a lawsuit alleging they had been sexually abused while serving time at the prison. At least seven corrections officers at the prison have been sentenced to prison time for the sexual abuse of inmates at the facility, according to a statement last month by the Justice Department.

What will happen to the prisoners and guards currently employed there? According to Peters’ statement, no employees will lose their jobs due to the shutdown, and all prisoners will be transferred to other facilities. The Bureau of Prisons will try to limit prisoner transfers to local facilities only to ensure the prisoners retain access to their legal counsel.

Dig deeper: Read Grace Snell’s report in WORLD Magazine about how inmates have languished in crowded jails for years while awaiting their day in court.