DOJ threatens California lawsuit over women’s prison sexual abuse
The Washington Examiner reports that the Trump administration threatened to sue California after an examination revealed widespread sexual misconduct by staff at two women’s prisons in the state. A letter from the Department of Justice, sent to Governor Gavin Newsom, stated investigators found enough evidence to believe California violated inmates’ constitutional rights under the Eighth adn 14th Amendments. The investigation focused on the Central California Women’s Facility and the California Institution for Women, revealing that misconduct dates back to at least 2000 and persists today.Over 375 sexual abuse allegations involving staff were documented between 2023 and mid-2025, with more than 350 cases reviewed and 320 lawsuits filed. One former officer, Gregory Rodriguez, was convicted of multiple counts and sentenced to 224 years. federal investigators identified deficiencies in safeguards, reporting systems, investigations, and accountability, proposing 11 corrective measures such as enhanced surveillance, confidential reporting channels, and better training. The investigation, conducted over two years, also examined the department’s cooperation and emphasized that findings are separate from ongoing inquiries into transgender prisoners housed with women. California has 49 days to address the issues before the Department of Justice considers legal action. The report underscores serious concerns about the conditions at these facilities and the need for significant reforms to prevent further abuse.
The Trump administration threatened legal action against California on Thursday after an investigation found an “unbroken pattern” of sexual misconduct by employees at two state women’s prisons.
In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon at the Justice Department said investigators had reasonable cause to believe the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation violated prisoners’ Eighth and 14th Amendment rights under the Constitution.
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“The depth of depravity that we’ve seen here” leaves little doubt that California must act, Dhillon said at a press conference in Los Angeles that coincided with the letter being sent. Prisoners, she added, should serve their sentences without “additional unconstitutional penalties” imposed by state employees.
The investigation examined the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino. The department said staff sexual misconduct at the facilities dates back to at least 2000 and continues today.
In her two-page letter to Newsom, Dhillon said the state has 49 days to address the conditions satisfactorily before the attorney general may sue under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.
California’s records documented more than 375 sexual abuse allegations involving staff at the prisons between 2023 and June 2025, according to the 29-page findings report. Investigators reviewed more than 350 allegations, while 320 private lawsuits have been filed against the corrections department or the facilities.
The report highlighted former correctional officer Gregory Rodriguez, who was convicted in 2025 on 62 criminal counts involving conduct in 2014 and 2022. Investigators identified more than 65 alleged victims. Rodriguez was sentenced to 224 years in prison.
Federal investigators concluded that the prisons lacked adequate safeguards to detect abuse, confidential reporting systems, reliable investigations, and protections against retaliation. They also found that accused employees were not consistently held accountable.
The department proposed 11 corrective measures, including expanded camera coverage, body-worn cameras for staff, independent confidential reporting channels, stronger investigations, improved training, and protections for prisoners who report misconduct.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who stood alongside Dhillon on Thursday, called the findings “unacceptable” and “unconscionable.” He said the civil investigation examined the policies and practices that allowed abuse to occur rather than specific criminal allegations.
Dhillon said California cooperated with the investigation, which began in September 2024 and continued across two presidential administrations.
She also emphasized that the findings are separate from another Justice Department investigation involving transgender prisoners housed in women’s facilities.
Dhillon alleged that women have been assaulted by biological men housed with them and said the department is wrapping up that inquiry “in short order.” Those claims were not part of Thursday’s report.
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Federal officials said they hope to resolve the constitutional violations cooperatively without going to court.
Read the full 29-page findings report below:
Findings Report – California Women Prisons by reportoftheday
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