The federal Bureau of Prisons has announced the closure of the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California, following years of rampant sexual abuse allegations against staff members. The facility, which gained notoriety as the “rape club,” has already begun the process of relocating its 605 inmates to other prisons across the country. FCI Dublin, where prominent figures like Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman, and Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss served their sentences, has failed to meet expected standards, according to Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters.
Despite the agency’s efforts to address issues such as culture, recruitment and retention, aging infrastructure, and employee misconduct, the measures taken were deemed insufficient. The closure of the facility, located 20 miles east of Oakland, is seen as the best option to rectify the situation. Notably, all employees at the prison will retain their jobs.
The closure comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by eight FCI Dublin inmates last August, accusing the Bureau of Prisons of failing to eradicate sexual abuse within the prison. Amaris Montes, the lawyer representing the group, criticized the decision to transfer hundreds of inmates to other parts of the country, potentially separating them from their families. Montes argued that the abuse suffered by the women at FCI Dublin constituted punishment enough and suggested alternative measures such as supervised relief or allowing them to reintegrate into society.
The announcement of the closure follows the recent appointment of a special master by a federal judge to oversee the prison. Former warden Ray Garcia is one of two prison staffers convicted of sexually abusing inmates since 2021, while five others have pleaded guilty, with one case still pending. It is important to note that any sexual relations between inmates and guards are illegal within prisons.
Additionally, former prison chaplain James Theodore Highhouse was convicted and sentenced to seven years for sexually assaulting a female inmate. Prosecutors revealed that Highhouse engaged in predatory behavior with at least six women between 2014 and 2019, claiming that God had brought them together. The severity of the chaplain’s actions prompted a federal judge to remark on the “culture of rot” at FCI Dublin during the sentencing.
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Readers may find it useful to learn more about the closure of the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California, and the sexual abuse allegations against staff members. This closure highlights the importance of addressing systemic issues within the prison system and ensuring the safety and well-being of incarcerated individuals. To stay updated on this issue and similar cases, you can follow news outlets and organizations that focus on criminal justice reform and prison conditions. Additionally, advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (AC