Assembly committee sends SB 337 to appropriations after unanimous vote to tighten oversight of staff abuse in women’s prisons

The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 337, a broad package of measures authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar aimed at preventing and better documenting staff abuse in California’s women’s prisons.

Senator Menjivar told the committee the bill responds to a string of high‑profile allegations of abuse and gaps in existing oversight: "There’s no documentation that takes place if an officer looks to search an incarcerated individual. It's a he said, she said kinda story. We wanna change that," she said.

SB 337 would require documentation of every search and scan, create an avenue for an advocate to be requested during invasive searches, extend the grievance filing window from 60 to 120 days, prohibit hiring or rehiring of custody staff convicted of sexual or violent offenses in institutions designated for women, and require recusal by investigators who have personal connections to accused staff. The bill also would require CDCR to adopt and update a clear zero‑tolerance sexual misconduct policy.

Witnesses in support included April Grayson of the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and coalition partners who based recommendations on outreach to more than 700 incarcerated people in women’s facilities. "By closing loopholes in CDCR's policy that allows staff to evade detection of their abuse, this bill offers a step towards greater transparency and accountability," Grayson said.

Opponents raised concerns that unrelated matters were being folded into the discussion; several speakers urged different amendments focused on the placement of incarcerated transgender individuals, which the author said is not the subject of SB 337. The author responded that the bill addresses staff‑perpetrated abuse — which multiple state reports show is the majority of reported incidents — and that the measure focuses on documentation, oversight, and prevention.

Assemblymember Harbedian moved the bill with a second by Dr. Sharp Collins; a third was noted by Assemblymember Gonzales. The committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor; the committee chair said the measure passed 9‑0 and advanced to the Appropriations Committee.

Supporters said the bill represents a substantive step toward accountability and prevention in CDCR institutions and acknowledged additional legislation may follow to address related issues.

The committee’s recorded action: motion to pass SB 337 carried unanimously (9‑0) and the measure was referred to Appropriations.