The U.S. government has agreed to pay nearly $116 million to settle lawsuits brought by over 100 women who suffered sexual abuse and mistreatment at the now-closed Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California. The prison, notorious for rampant staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct, was referred to as the “rape club.”
Under the settlements approved Tuesday, the Justice Department will compensate 103 women with an average of $1.1 million each. The agreements were finalized as a federal judge prepared to approve a separate class-action lawsuit settlement. This settlement mandates court-appointed oversight of certain prison facilities and a public acknowledgment of the abuse at FCI Dublin by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
“We were sentenced to prison, we were not sentenced to be assaulted and abused,” said Aimee Chavira, a lawsuit plaintiff and former inmate. Chavira expressed hope that the settlement would aid survivors in healing but acknowledged that financial compensation cannot undo the harm caused or reunite deported victims with their families.
The Bureau of Prisons responded with a statement condemning all forms of sexual abuse and affirming its commitment to inmate safety. The settlement resolves an initial wave of lawsuits after former warden Ray Garcia and other staff members were convicted of abusing inmates. Individual compensation amounts were determined through interviews conducted by a third-party process.
An Associated Press (AP) investigation exposed a culture of abuse and cover-ups at FCI Dublin, prompting scrutiny from Congress and pledges for reform by the Bureau of Prisons. The lawsuits described a “pervasive culture of sexual misconduct and retaliation,” with allegations that the BOP ignored clear warning signs.
Among the cases, one transgender inmate accused Garcia of molestation and bribery with drugs. Another woman reported being assaulted by recycling supervisor Ross Klinger, who later took her to a motel for sex after her release. Additionally, safety administrator John Bellhouse was accused of trapping a woman in his office and dismissing her complaint by saying, “If it’s not on camera then you’re beat.”
Since 2021, eight FCI Dublin staff members have faced charges for sexual abuse. Five pleaded guilty, two were convicted at trial, and one case remains unresolved. Garcia, convicted in 2022, is serving a 70-month prison sentence. Klinger received five years of supervised release, while Bellhouse is serving a 63-month sentence.
Deborah Golden, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, described the environment at FCI Dublin as one where “no one was safe.” She called the settlements a “searing indictment” of systemic failures within the prison system and urged policymakers to enact reforms to prevent future abuse.
In July, President Joe Biden signed legislation enhancing oversight of the Bureau of Prisons, spurred by AP investigations into its systemic flaws. The class-action lawsuit settlement includes a consent decree requiring reforms, such as a monitor to oversee the treatment of former Dublin inmates now housed at various federal facilities.
BOP Director Colette Peters will issue a formal public acknowledgment of the abuse at FCI Dublin as part of the agreement. The Bureau announced on December 5 that FCI Dublin would be permanently closed following a security and infrastructure assessment.
