SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – New information is emerging about the "rape culture" at the Dublin prison, where the most vulnerable were allegedly singled out for abuse.
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The former warden of the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Ray Garcia, has been charged with seven counts of sexually abusive conduct towards three women in a superseding indictment released last week.
"This is really beyond outrageous," Diana Block, one of the founding members of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners and legal advocate, told KCBS Radio. She called the rape culture at Dublin "systemic."
Five people, including the warden, have been indicted.
"The majority of the women who were targeted are immigrants, largely undocumented," Block said.
Vulnerabilities were exploited. Some of the victims were not fluent in English and were threatened with deportation.
"While holding individuals accountable is important, we feel that it’s really, really important to change the entire culture and the systems of reporting," Block said. "The warden was in charge of the Prison Elimination Act. So when one of the women threatened to go and report it, he said, 'Well I am the officer so good luck.'"
"Unless you have a way that women can report their abuse that is not monitored, those women are subject to retaliation, which has happened."
The California Coalition for Women Prisoners is also part of the Dublin Prison solidarity coalition, which includes Central Legal De La Raza, a Bay Area legal agency that serves low-income people, immigrants and other under privileged communities. They are advocating for the "compassionate" release for female prisoners subjected to ongoing sexual assault.
Dublin has been the subject of multiple lawsuits dating back to the 1990s.
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