The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin (also known as FCI Dublin) is a low security prison for females in Dublin, California. The prison opened in 1974 and became an exclusively female facility in 2012, making it one of five all-female federal prisons in the United States.
Beginning in 2021, the facility was investigated by the Associated Press for what they referred to as a “permissive and toxic culture…of sexual misconduct by predatory employees.” In their report, the AP said that inmates complained of “rampant sexual abuse” by the officers, who threatened or physically punished them when they complained about the incidents. The investigation led to a plea deal for a prison chaplain and a sexual offense conviction for Ray J. Garcia, a former warden of Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin.
Were you sexually abused by a correctional officer or another employee of the prison system while you were incarcerated at FCI Dublin? Are you a current inmate at the facility who is being sexually abused by the guards or someone else that works for the Federal Bureau of Prisons? The sexual assault lawyers of Normandie are here for you if you would like to learn about your legal rights. Depending on the circumstances, you may have grounds to sue FCI Dublin for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and other monetary compensation.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
Breaking: FBI Raided the Women’s Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin
Federal investigators raided the women’s prison and seized computers and documents. Although the FBI has not confirmed details, some believe that the FBI raid is part of an ongoing sexual abuse investigation. According to Steven Clark, a legal analyst, the FBI is “casting a wide net… to look into [the] prison and all of the corruption of the individuals at the prison [as to not completely] rely on information from the inmates.” The FBI simply said that the search was “court authorized law enforcement activity.” The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) has confirmed that there is a new warden at the prison. A spokesperson with the FBOP also confirmed that the situation at the prison require new executive employees.
Reportedly, investigators have been looking into years of sexual abuse at the prison. At least eight employees (two of which include a warden and a chaplain) have been charged for sexual abuse of inmates; five plead guilty and two were convicted at trial. A lawyer representing victims stated that they have “seen a pattern of guards intentionally targeting immigrant women… presuming that those women would be deported” after their release and making it “harder to hold them accountable.”
The situation at the prison got the attention of a U.S. Representative, who was actually denied access to meeting inmates who were raped. Former representative Jackie Spieir stated that the prison was referred to “as a rape club.” Former Representative Spieir is working alongside the Coalition for Women Prisoners to uncover the abuse going on at the Dublin prison and other prisons in the country – and ultimately change the culture of abuse and cover-ups in American prisons.
Suing FCI Dublin for a Case of Sexual Assault
Many people are confused about the parties they are allowed to sue as a victim of sexual abuse. If you were abused by a correctional officer, for example, you would obviously have the right to file a lawsuit against them. But there are usually other individuals and entities that are responsible for overseeing these employees. We mentioned former FCI Dublin warden Ray J. Garcia in the introduction to this article. He was sentenced to 70 months in prison for sexually abusing several inmates, but as the judge in his trial told him at his sentencing, “You were supposed to be the check. You were supposed to be the person making sure no one else did that.”
Certainly, the warden is one person who should be supervising the employees at the prison and investigating complaints of sexual abuse. But that responsibility extends to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as well. Depending on the agency’s actions (or lack of action), they may be liable for the abuse that’s clearly taken place at FCI Dublin for a very long time. The point of all this is that there are multiple parties that may share liability for the sexual assault of an inmate. It’s essential to hold every single one of these entities responsible and maximize the compensation you are due as someone that was abused by the federal prison system. However, doing so can be extremely complicated, whether you are a former inmate or someone that’s still incarcerated at FCI Dublin. That brings us to an essential question: Am I allowed to sue the prison where I am currently incarcerated?”
Can I File a Lawsuit if I am Still Imprisoned?
Let’s face it – there are many rights and privileges that are lost to you while you are serving time, which is why it’s natural for people to ask, “Can an inmate sue a prison for incidents of sexual assault?” The answer is yes, just like anyone else, you have the right to take legal action against an individual or institution when their negligence causes you to suffer physical and/or mental injuries.
However, these cases are much more complicated compared to the average personal injury lawsuit. For one thing, inmates are required to go through the prison’s grievance procedures, which can differ greatly from one facility to another. Of course, whether an inmate will be treated fairly in these situations is another issue. Prison systems have a reputation of protecting their own, and this is reflected in how complicated it can be for a prisoner to succeed in a complaint against their abuser. In fact, many former and current inmates at a California correctional facility have told us that they were discouraged from pursuing a complaint because the procedures were so complicated.
But you don’t have to give up in the fight for justice when you are represented by one of our attorneys. We will educate you on your legal rights and fight for the restitution you deserve as a victim of sexual abuse by an FCI Dublin employee. Please get in touch with us immediately to speak with a prison sexual abuse lawsuit lawyer.
Is There a Class Action Lawsuit on these Cases?
While there is no class action on these cases at the moment, it’s important to note that class actions take a long time to develop. For one thing, it was only as of last year that there were criminal charges and convictions against two of the abusers that sexually violated inmates at Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin. Women are still coming forward with their harrowing tales, and each of these women has a right to pursue a legal action on their own. When there are enough victims that express interest in suing the Federal Bureau of Prison and other responsible parties, that’s when our law firm can move forward with the class action process.
Our lawyers can help you if have questions on how to join a class action lawsuit for sexual assault against inmates at FCI Dublin. We can also educate on other legal actions that may be available to you, so please call us right away to speak with a prison sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.
Average Case Value of a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit against Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin
It’s hard to say what the average payment will be for these cases, though we know from decades of experience that sex abuse lawsuits typically bring in high settlements. Perhaps $500,000 to $1.5 million is where we would place most of these claims, though your case value may be higher based on the number of indents, the severity of your injuries, gross negligence by the prison, and other crucial factors. Frankly, it would be a disservice to try and guess what someone’s case is worth without a full understanding of the harm they’ve suffered – and will continue to suffer. Thus, we would like to offer you a free consultation, which you can schedule by contacting our office.
Statute of Limitations – How Long Do I have to File a Lawsuit?
Under California law, you have 10 years from date of the incident to file a lawsuit for sexual assault. If the assault has been going on for an extended of period of time, you can go by the date of the most recent incident. In addition, the law allows victims 3 years from finding out that they were sexually abused to bring forth a lawsuit. This is essential, as there are situations where the victim was taken advantage of without being aware of what was being done to them.
The 10-year statute of limitations applies to sexual assaults that were committed on or after January 1, 2019. However, those who were abused before that date may still have a chance to sue their abuser, thanks to the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act (AB 2777). Under this law, there is a 3-year lookback window, which allows survivors to seek justice for cases occurring between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019.
With all the recent changes in the laws, you may still have the opportunity to seek monetary compensation and hold the prison system responsible their negligence. But you must act quickly to take advantage of the time you have left, so please don’t wait to contact the sexual assault lawyers of Normandie Law Firm.
How Long Does it Take to Settle these Cases?
How long it will take to settle your case is dependent on many different factors. The complexities in your case – the type of abuse you’ve suffered, the impact on your mental and physical health, how long ago the incidents took place – will certainly play a role. Another important element is the defendant’s degree of liability and how willing they are to admit that they are at fault. The type of legal action you are pursuing matters as well. Though class action lawsuits make a more powerful statement and have a fairly high success rate, they usually take longer to settle than personal injury claims. The best answer we can give is that it can take anywhere from a few months to several years to resolve a sexual abuse case against a correctional institution.
Contact the Sexual Abuse Lawyers of Normandie
Sexual assault does not discriminate when it comes to the victims who are forced to endure this life-altering form of abuse. On the other hand, there is plenty of discrimination against those who are incarcerated, who are often disregarded when they complain of physical and sexual abuse in the prison system. No matter the circumstances, you deserve a fair shake at justice when someone has taken advantage of you sexually.
Here at Normandie Law Firm, you can count on us to fight for you and the settlement you deserve. There’s no need to worry about legal fees if you decide to hire us, as we cover you with the Zero Fee Guarantee. All of our expenses are billed to the defendant and recovered at the end of your case as a part of your settlement award. What happens if we don’t win your case? You owe us $0 under our policy of “No Recovery, No Fee.”
We look forward to assisting you any we can and appreciate the opportunity to educate you on your rights and legal options. Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with a lawyer that’s experienced in cases of sex abuse in prison.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorneys
San Joaquin County Grand Jury Finds that County Jail and Juvenile Hall Facility Have Not Done Enough to Prevent Sexual Abuse
Rabbi – Jewish School Sexual Abuse Lawyer
