This settlement marks the largest ever paid by the Department of Justice to incarcerated women, according to attorney Jessica Pride, who believes the compensation should be significantly higher.

The U.S. government has agreed to pay nearly $116 million to settle lawsuits from over 100 women who suffered abuse at the now-closed Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, infamously known as the 'rape club' due to its history of staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct.

An investigation revealed a long-standing culture of abuse and cover-ups at FCI Dublin, which prompted increased scrutiny from Congress and calls for reforms that were not realized prior to the prison's closure.

In response to the abusive environment reported at FCI Dublin, President Joe Biden signed legislation in July 2024 aimed at strengthening oversight of the Bureau of Prisons.

Despite previous reforms intended to address incidents of abuse, attorneys argue that many measures were ineffective or abandoned, allowing the cycle of abuse to continue.

The settlement includes a proposed consent decree that mandates ongoing external monitoring, regular public reporting on abuse, access to community-based counseling, and limitations on solitary confinement.

Aimee Chavira, a plaintiff in the lawsuits, expressed hope that the settlement would aid survivors in their healing process, but emphasized that financial compensation cannot undo the harm inflicted by the Bureau of Prisons.

The allegations detailed in the lawsuits involved extreme misconduct by staff members, including forced sexual acts and drug use to silence victims.

This settlement follows a separate class-action lawsuit settlement where the Bureau of Prisons agreed to implement reforms and allow a court-appointed monitor due to ongoing issues of abuse and retaliation at FCI Dublin.

A 2022 U.S. Senate inquiry revealed that sexual abuse has been documented in at least two-thirds of federal women's prisons over the past decade, with some victims enduring prolonged abuse.

Currently, 29 correctional officers from the prison remain on leave, and further criminal charges are anticipated as investigations continue.

The Bureau of Prisons has acknowledged the settlements and condemned all forms of sexual abuse, reiterating its commitment to protect those in custody.