California — The U.S. Department of Justice has opened federal civil rights investigations into prison housing policies in California and Maine, focusing on whether female inmates’ constitutional rights are being violated.
According to the Justice Department, the investigations will examine conditions at the California Institution for Women in San Bernardino County and the Central California Women’s Facility in Madera County, as well as the Maine Correctional Center in Windham. The inquiries will assess whether state policies allowing biological males to be housed in women’s prisons constitute a “pattern or practice” of rights violations.
Federal officials said the investigations will review potential violations of the First Amendment, Eighth Amendment, and Fourteenth Amendment, including allegations involving safety, privacy, and equal protection concerns.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the investigations are focused on inmate safety and constitutional protections, while Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the Civil Rights Division will examine whether current policies expose female inmates to unconstitutional risks of harm.
The Justice Department cited allegations in California facilities including sexual assault, harassment, and intimidation linked to housing decisions. Under current state law, incarcerated individuals may request transfers based on gender identity.
In Maine, the investigation follows complaints that a male inmate housed in a women’s facility allegedly assaulted or harassed female inmates.
Officials emphasized that no conclusions have been reached and that the investigations are ongoing. The Department is conducting the reviews under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which allows federal authorities to investigate systemic violations of prisoners’ constitutional rights.
The Justice Department is also collecting information from the public related to inmate housing practices nationwide as part of a broader review initiative.
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