A federal judge has granted final approval to a legal settlement that mandates independent monitoring and increased transparency for the federal Bureau of Prisons following reports of widespread staff-on-inmate sexual abuse at a now-closed federal women's prison in California.
The settlement, approved by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, includes provisions for a court-appointed monitor to oversee the treatment of approximately 500 former inmates from the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, who are now housed in various federal facilities across the country.
Additionally, the agreement offers avenues for early release and home confinement for affected individuals and requires the Bureau of Prisons to issue a formal public acknowledgment to victims of staff sexual abuse at FCI Dublin.
Former Dublin inmate Kendra Drysdale emphasized the importance of the consent decree and its oversight in ensuring the safety and protection of class members who have been subjected to abuse.
FCI Dublin, which closed last year, is currently being considered for repurposing as an immigration detention facility.
The judge dismissed the Bureau of Prisons' request to modify the agreement, particularly regarding protections for transgender and non-citizen inmates, stating that renegotiation was not an option after the settlement had been finalized.
Under the terms of the consent decree, the Bureau of Prisons must respect the rights of transgender and non-citizen inmates, including allowing gender-affirming clothing and accommodations and not denying early release based solely on immigration status.
The consent decree, effective from March 31, will be in place for at least two years, during which a court-appointed monitor will assess compliance and issue monthly reports on various issues, including staff abuse and inmate retaliation.
The agreement also includes safeguards against retaliation, such as prohibiting the use of special housing units for low-level disciplinary matters and reviewing and expunging invalid disciplinary reports issued by FCI Dublin staff.
Furthermore, the Bureau of Prisons is required to expedite the release of eligible plaintiffs to halfway houses and home confinement and restore any lost early release credits.
