Attorneys for inmates formerly housed at the FCI Dublin federal women’s prison announced a historic settlement Friday afternoon with the Bureau of Prisons, one calling for widespread reforms and federally-monitored oversight of the care those inmates receive at facilities across the nation.
The proposed settlement marks a unprecedented end to a lawsuit filed last year alleging years of widespread sexual abuse and retaliation by guards at the scandal-plagued facility, which was recently shuttered with no plans to reopen. Most notably, it plunges the Bureau of Prisons into a two-year monitoring program an agreement intended to protect those inmates from the same types of abuses perpetuated by an alleged “rape club” at the troubled Dublin prison.
The settlement still requires final approval by a judge, and inmates who with who raise concerns about the proposed settlement can do so at a hearing scheduled for Feb. 25.
Under the settlement agreement, the nearly 500 inmates who joined in the class-action lawsuit and who still remain incarcerated would be overseen by a federal monitor, to ensure they are treated properly by the Bureau of Prisons. The inmates — who are currently housed at a dozen prisons across the United States — would receive numerous protections, including from being placed into solitary confinement as a form of retaliation for speaking out about conditions at their respective prisons.
To ensure that the reforms are implemented, the Bureau of Prisons would enter into a two-year consent decree that would be overseen by a federal judge.
In addition, the director of the Bureau of Prisons is expected to issue a formal public acknowledgement of the sexual abuse that happened at FCI Dublin, which was the site of a reputed “rape club” that saw eight former staff members, including a warden, criminally charged with myriad sex crimes.
On Friday afternoon, an attorney for the inmates praised the historic nature of the agreement.
“Much more work is needed,” said Kara Janssen, an attorney representing inmates in the lawsuit. “Does this fix everything? No it does not. But this is a huge step, and we are very proud of the work that our clients, our class members and survivors, have done to get to this point to hold BOP accountable. It’s the first step, but it’s a big step.”
The Federal Bureau of Prisons did not immediately reply to a request by this newspaper for comment.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
