Justice Department Investigation Uncovers Decades of Systemic Sexual Abuse in California Women's Prisons

A two-year federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice has revealed an "unbroken pattern" of staff sexual assault and harassment against incarcerated women at California's two women's prisons, spanning over two decades. The report concluded that prison officials were aware of the substantial risk of sexual abuse but failed to adequately protect the women, citing systemic problems including gaps in surveillance, lack of confidential reporting, inadequate investigations, and failures in accountability.