California's prison system has systematically failed to protect incarcerated women from sexual abuse and harassment by guards, according to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation released Thursday. The federal probe found that the state's corrections department also failed to provide victims with a safe way to report misconduct without fear of retaliation, and that staff assigned to investigate such allegations were often themselves accused of abuse or harassment.
The investigation, initiated during the Biden administration, centered on two facilities: the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino. It uncovered numerous instances of guards engaging in sexual abuse of incarcerated women. In one notable case, a guard was convicted of widespread abuse spanning approximately a decade and received a 224-year prison sentence.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) stated that it enforces a zero-tolerance policy in accordance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. A spokesperson for the department added that recent audits by independent entities, trained by the DOJ, found the two prisons in compliance with federal standards in 2024 and 2025. The CDCR also indicated it is committed to supporting victims and ensuring confidential reporting channels for both incarcerated individuals and staff.
Federal authorities, however, highlighted significant gaps in confidentiality. Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, noted that women were instructed to report misconduct through an online system that was not confidential and accessible to accused officers, which she stated serves as a deterrent to reporting. Dhillon also pointed to a sergeant tasked with investigating misconduct who was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse images at work.
"The upshot of our investigation is that California’s prison system, when it comes to women, has inadequate systems in place to deter, detect, and hold accountable rampant sexual misconduct and assault on female prisoners," Dhillon said at a news conference. The Associated Press has previously reported on similar patterns of abuse against women in a federal facility in Dublin, California, which was subsequently closed.
The DOJ has given California's prison system 49 days to address the conditions that have allowed for widespread abuse, warning of potential civil litigation if the issues are not remediated. Recommended measures include expanding camera coverage, enhancing confidential reporting mechanisms, and strengthening investigative protocols.
Advocates expressed frustration with the pace of change. Emily Wonder of Sister Warriors, an organization advocating for incarcerated women and transgender people, stated that state audits use a "low bar" that allows abuse and neglect to go unnoticed. Her organization has participated in state working groups since 2023 but has "haven’t seen any meaningful changes." Sister Warriors and other groups are advocating for additional legislation to improve protections, reporting options, and transparency for incarcerated women.