RBGG is representing eight survivors of staff sexual abuse and retaliation at Federal Correctional Institution Dublin (FCI Dublin) and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) in a class action filed in August 2023 against the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), FCI Dublin officials, and several individual officers. U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is considering whether the BOP has done enough to stop the pattern of sexual abuse and retaliation at FCI Dublin, or whether the Court should make preliminary orders to protect people at the prison. Such preliminary orders could include the appointment of a neutral third party to monitor the prison, as well as other measures. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, March 15, 2024.
On March 11, 2024 numerous media outlets reported on an FBI raid at FCI Dublin that resulted in the removal of the warden from the prison, along with two other high-ranking staff members. RBGG’s Kara Janssen, an attorney for the class of women prisoners who brought the suit, commented to several media sources about the latest developments.
Warden ousted amid FBI raid at scandal-plagued FCI Dublin women’s prison, Mercury News, March 11, 2024: “This is not a proactive change in leadership,” said Janssen. “The only changes in leadership seem to come through criminal investigations.” She added that the constant shakeups of leadership at the prison — which has cycled through at least five different permanent or acting wardens in the past three years — have provided little relief for inmates. If anything, she said, Monday’s developments only further prove the need for independent oversight of the prison. “It’s an incredibly difficult place for people to be living every single day,” Janssen said. “And I just hope we can get relief for them soon, because they have no choice but to be there.”
FBI Raids Dublin Women’s Prison Plagued by Sexual Abuse, Associated Press, March 11, 2024: “Right now, we just have a lot of questions about what is going on,” Janssen said. “Is this related to our ongoing case? We have a lot of questions and a lot of concerns about our clients who are still at this facility.” Janssen said there are also concerns about how the prison is currently functioning.
FCI Dublin warden, 3 other top managers ousted amidst FBI raid, KTVU, March 11, 2024. Commenting on the appointment of a new warden, Janssen had this comment: “I’m glad that they have somebody who’s ready to step into that role. But this is now the fourth or fifth warden in almost as many years and we very little faith about the BOP’s ability to reform this deeply troubled institution.” . . . “I think this all goes to show that whatever criminal allegations may be involved here, whatever prosecutions may result, it’s not the answer. This is right where we were a few years ago. And this shows that there’s a real need for outside change.”