California Prison Sexual Assault Attorney

The power imbalances in a prison, jail, or correctional facility mean it is impossible to have consensual sexual contact between prisoners and the guards or staff. Similarly, sexual violations between prisoners should be prevented by proper incarceration procedures.  

An experienced California prison sexual assault lawyer can support you in recovering from the harm you have suffered while holding the perpetrators and enablers accountable. A lawsuit can help you reassert your rights, remove predators from positions of power, and access funds to provide you with a brighter, more stable future.

Jessica Pride and her team are dedicated to helping sexual assault survivors. Our clients are from all walks of life and deserve to be heard, believed, and substantially compensated for the trauma they’ve suffered at the hands of abusers. 

To explore your legal options, contact our San Diego offices online or call (619) 516-8166 to speak with our compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys. 

Sexual assaults in prisons are often part of a pattern or “culture” of abuse. Incidents may be part of repeated, cyclical violations that can cause lasting psychological damage among multiple inmates.  

When just one person speaks out, it can uncover underlying conspiracies and encourage more survivors to come forward and find justice.

What Are the Affects Associated With California Prison Sexual Assault?

Prison sexual assault can cause significant and long-term injuries to survivors, both physically and emotionally. Here are some of the impacts associated with prison sexual assault:

• Physical injuries: Sexual assault can cause physical injuries from the attack, and the victim may also contract sexually transmitted infections or become pregnant as a result of the assault.
• Emotional distress: The prison environment is already stressful and keeps people isolated from loved ones. Sexual assault only worsens a person’s mental health. Survivors may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.
• Loss of trust: Victims of sexual assault can lose trust in others, especially authority figures. This understandable mistrust can lead to harmful coping mechanisms.
• Substance abuse: Survivors of sexual assault may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their trauma, which can lead to addiction. Treating a drug addiction in prison can be difficult or impossible, and leaving prison with an addiction makes it harder to maintain your independence on parole.
• Suicide: Victims of sexual assault are at a higher risk of suicide than the general population. The trauma of sexual assault can be overwhelming, and many survivors struggle with feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Don’t struggle with these experiences alone, as they can easily consume or overwhelm you. It is important to seek support if you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault in a California correctional facility. 

A California prison sexual assault lawyer can be part of that help, as we can handle the work associated with case building so you can focus on your physical health and mental peace.

Sexual Assault in Jail - California Statistics

California has an incarceration rate of 494 per 100,000 people, one of the highest among democratic countries worldwide. Therefore, overcrowding and insufficient oversight can increase the risk of sexual assault. 

While California introduced the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003 to address sexual abuse and harassment of offenders in confinement settings, the state is still struggling to get these incidents under control. 

Below are just a few alarming statistics highlighting the California correctional facility sexual abuse problem: 

• The 2020 PREA annual report documented 1,720 allegations of staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct between 2015 and 2020. 
• A 2016 report found that out of a random sample of 130 women interviewed, 80 of them had experienced sexual abuse or harassment while incarcerated. 
• A 2023 in-depth article noted that since 2014, women incarcerated in California state prisons have filed hundreds of complaints of sexual abuse by staff, yet only four officers have been terminated for sexual misconduct.
• There were over 1,100 allegations of staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct in California prisons between 2015 and 2020. 

The chart above illustrates the disturbing number of allegations, involving staff (S) on inmate (IM) and inmate on inmate reports.

What Does a California Prison Sexual Assault Lawyer Do to Help Survivors?

Our prison sexual assault lawyers help survivors by:

• Providing reassurance: There is a real, viable path through this difficult time to a satisfactory case resolution, and knowing that is a relief to many clients. If you feel overwhelmed, scared, or hopeless, we can provide proven, verifiable guidance on how to move forward.
• Investigating the incident: We can conduct a thorough investigation of the incident by legally demanding (with a subpoena) internal camera footage, reports, and guard schedules from the correctional facility. We can also secure evidence by taking witness statements and building a strong case against the perpetrator(s) of the assault.
• Advocating for the survivor: A prison sexual assault attorney can be a strong advocate for the survivor, both in and out of the courtroom. We can work with law enforcement, correctional facilities, and other agencies to ensure that the survivor's rights are protected.
• Pursuing legal action: We can handle settlement discussions on your behalf, negotiate potential insurance claims, and present your case before a judge or jury if necessary to secure justice. 
• Calculating and securing compensation: Our prison sexual assault attorneys may consult experts to accurately account for your medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

These are just some of the ways that the prison sexual assault lawyers at The Pride Law Firm can help our clients. If you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault in prison, it’s crucial to connect with a qualified attorney with proven success in the area of sexual assault litigation.

Jessica Pride firmly believes that sexual assault and rape are not part of serving time after a criminal conviction. 

If you need a strong advocate on your side to help protect your reputation as you seek the justice you deserve, contact our law firm online or by calling (619) 516-8166 for a free, fully confidential consultation.

Can You Sue Over Sexual Assault in Jail in California?

Generally, yes. If you were sexually assaulted while in someone else’s custody and thus under their care, you can sue them for that violation or for negligently allowing it to happen.

While the terms "jail" and "prison" are often used interchangeably, there are some key differences between the two:

What Is a Jail?

Jails are typically used to hold individuals awaiting trial or sentencing or who have been sentenced to a short term of incarceration. Jails are typically operated by local governments, such as counties or municipalities, and are usually smaller in size than prisons. 

Inmates in jails may include individuals who have been arrested for minor offenses, such as traffic violations, as well as those who have been charged with more serious crimes.

How Is a Prison Different Than a Jail?

Prisons are long-term correctional facilities used to house individuals convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of incarceration. State or federal governments are typically in charge of prisons, which are larger than jails. Prisons usually house inmates convicted of more serious crimes, such as felonies.

It is important for your lawyer to factor in these differences when considering the issue of sexual assault in correctional facilities.

Sexual Abuse California Prison Lawsuits

With the support of a California prison sexual assault attorney, many survivors have been able to file lawsuits against prisons and their staff in California. Although more needs to be done to remedy the rampant, often ignored, and underreported issue of sexual assault in California institutions, below are a few shining examples of those who have bravely taken a stand: 

Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Dublin, California 

FCI Dublin, one of six federal prisons exclusively for women in the US and the only one in the western region, held roughly 605 inmates in California. Since 2021, eight employees of FCI Dublin have been charged with sexually abusing female inmates. 

Sexual abuse was so common in the California prison that it earned the name “the rape club” among staff and residents. 

There are more than 60 sex abuse lawsuits and counting filed against officers at FCI Dublin, with The Pride Law Firm representing several survivors. 

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

Dozens of women are suing the California Department of Corrections, alleging they were sexually abused by prison staff. More than 130 former female inmates claim they were victims at the California Institution for Women in Chino and Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla.

Lawsuits Against Former Guard at Central California Women’s Facility

Former prison guard Gregory Rodriguez is currently facing 96 charges of sexual assault against female inmates. Despite countless warnings regarding his behavior, prison officials reportedly did nothing to stop Rodriguez. 

Recently, six former inmates sexually assaulted by Rodriguez while incarcerated received a $3.7 million settlement. 

Contact an Experienced California Prison Sexual Assault Attorney for Reliable Support

While jail and prison sentences are intended to punish those convicted of crimes, under no circumstances should those consequences include sexual assault, abuse, or rape. Prisoners should never lose the inherent human rights and dignity we are all entitled to, and that includes freedom from sexual violence.

Why Hire The Pride Law Firm

Jessica Pride is an active volunteer in the community and is recognized for her achievements in civil law for sexual assault and abuse survivors across age ranges and genders. Jessica and her team have helped hundreds of survivors heal, find peace through justice, and recover their power.

A prison sentence does not forfeit your fundamental rights — let us help you seek justice and hold abusers and enabling institutions accountable. Your decision to pursue a lawsuit today could help restore your personal strength and improve treatment for other incarcerated individuals just like you.

Contact our team to find the best path forward for you. We can be reached online or by phone at (619) 516-8166 for a free, confidential consultation. 

Proudly Representing California Residents