Legislators, survivors and advocates press CDCR on staff sexual misconduct at women’s prisons

Legislators, formerly incarcerated survivors and prison advocacy groups pressed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Office of the Inspector General on longstanding staff sexual misconduct and retaliation at the state's two women's prisons, telling members of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 that current measures have not stopped abuse.

The session on staff sexual misconduct and the department’s complaint processes brought testimony from wardens at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Chino, the Office of the Inspector General, survivors and community organizations including Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and Transformative Programming Works. Survivors recounted assaults and described fear of retaliation that discouraged reporting.

Why it matters: witnesses and lawmakers said staff misconduct and the threat of retaliation undermine safety, rehabilitation and reentry for incarcerated women and transgender people, and they urged legislative action on oversight, funding for survivor services and expanded pathways to release for victims of staff abuse.

Warden Anissa Dela Cruz told the committee she oversees care…