Eight inmates at a federal women’s prison in the San Francisco Bay Area, dubbed the “Rape Club” by both inmates and staff, were accused Wednesday of sexual abuse in prison, according to the Associated Press. Filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys representing the California Women’s Coalition of Prisoners, a rights group for Oakland inmates and women’s prisons, named the current warden and 12 current and former prison guards, despite previous allegations, and the Federal Prison Service. claims to have done nothing to curb the abuse. according to to AP. Previous investigations uncovered a culture of prisoner abuse dating back to the 1990s, resulting in questions from Congress and the Federal Prison Service. (Related: ‘I’m Really Proud Of That Law’: California Senator Defends Law Allowing Biological Men To Enter Women’s Prisons)
An aerial view of a prison in California. (Photo credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“Individual prisoners had to endure rape, molestation, voyeurism, forced stripping, and sexually explicit remarks on a daily basis,” said Amaris Montez, an attorney for the plaintiffs’ attorney, Rights Behind Birds. he told the Associated Press.
The former commander was sentenced to about six years in prison for sexually abusing a female inmate and forcing her to be photographed naked in her cell, according to the Associated Press.
“We visited the prison yesterday and heard additional stories of recent sexual abuse over the last week,” Montez said.
The plaintiffs are seeking a third party to oversee the prison and allow inmates to confidentially report abuse, according to the Associated Press.
It also classifies the case as a class action lawsuit calling for a merciful release, and calls for prisoners not residing in the country to be released on special visas for crime victims, known as “U visas.”
The Federal Prison Service did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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