Folsom Women’s Facility Abuse Lawsuit
Folsom State Prison is the second-oldest correctional facility in California. For most of its history, the prison has exclusively held male inmates. Folsom rarely housed any women inmates until 2013, when it opened a dedicated facility for women with the capacity to accommodate 403 female inmates. However, the women’s facility was closed in 2023 due to budgetary concerns.
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Content Last Updated: October 22, 2025
In recent years, incarcerated women in prisons across California have filed lawsuits exposing sexual abuse, medical neglect, and retaliation. Survivors and their families deserve justice and accountability. Police Brutality Center helps by connecting them with civil rights attorneys who have experience handling abuse cases in women’s prisons.
Key Takeaways
- Lawsuits against California women’s prisons have exposed sexual abuse, medical neglect, and retaliation, drawing increased public and legal scrutiny.
- Incarcerated women in California maintain constitutional rights and can take legal action to seek justice for abuse.
- Police Brutality Center helps survivors of prison abuse at Folsom Women’s Facility and their families connect with experienced attorneys who handle prison abuse cases.
Understanding Abuse at Folsom Women’s Facility
Abuse in correctional facilities takes many forms. In women’s prisons, the most common types of abuse include the following:
- Physical abuse: Excessive use of force by guards or other inmates, such as beatings, unnecessary restraints, and attacks
- Sexual abuse: Assault, harassment, or coercion by staff or other inmates
- Emotional and psychological abuse: Isolation in solitary confinement, verbal harassment, humiliation, and threats aimed at damaging an inmate’s mental health
- Medical neglect: Failure to provide adequate health care, which includes denying necessary medications, ignoring serious medical conditions, or delaying treatment
Lawsuits and Investigations Involving Women’s Prisons
Incarcerated individuals who experience abuse in prison can take legal action through both criminal and civil courts. By pursuing these cases, survivors hold their abusers accountable, push for meaningful reform, and seek compensation for the harm they have suffered. While none of these suits filed so far involve Folsom State Prison, the following are examples of recent lawsuits involving other women’s prisons in California:
Lawsuit against California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or CDCR
In February 2025, six women filed a lawsuit against the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or CDCR, claiming that prison gynecologist Dr. Scott Lee sexually abused them while they were inmates at the California Institution for Women in Chino. According to news reports, the women allege that the abuse took place between 2016 and 2023. They assert that although prisoners made numerous complaints against the doctor, the facility ignored their concerns.
Central California Women’s Facility Lawsuit
In 2023, nearly 30 inmates at the Central California Women’s Facility filed a lawsuit against the prison and 100 unnamed staff members. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the lawsuit alleges that staff members aided former employee Israel Trevino in committing sexual abuse and concealing his actions before he was terminated for sexual misconduct in 2018. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Trevino passed away in May 2021.
California Coalition for Women Prisoners v. U.S. Bureau of Prisons
This case resulted in a February 2025 court-approved consent decree mandating that the Federal Bureau of Prisons address systemic abuse. It also prompted a settlement in which the government agreed to pay $116 million to resolve claims by more than 100 women who alleged they were abused or mistreated at the now-closed federal facility known as FCI Dublin in Dublin, California. The facility’s closure was finalized in December 2024.
Rights of Incarcerated Women in California
Being in prison does not mean that individuals lose all constitutional and legal protections. Prisoners retain many protections even while in custody.. Below are some of the rights prisoners hold:
Eighth Amendment
The Eighth Amendment ensures that incarcerated individuals receive humane treatment regardless of their crimes. Prisoners have the right not to face unnecessary suffering. It requires that prisoners receive adequate medical care and humane living conditions. It also prohibits the use of excessive physical force and protects inmates from intentional harm by staff or other inmates.
Fourteenth Amendment
Under the Fourteenth Amendment, inmates have the right to fair treatment, legal counsel, and due process. In 1974, the Supreme Court ruled in Wolff v. McDonnell that prisoners do not lose their right to due process during incarceration. This applies to disciplinary actions, parole decisions, and other legal matters.
Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA
Incarcerated individuals with disabilities are protected by laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws mandate that prisons and jails provide necessary accommodations, ensuring disabled prisoners can access prison services, programs, and activities equitably. Therefore, prisons may need to provide wheelchairs, sign language interpreters, or tailored medical care.
Access to Medical Care
In the case of Estelle v. Gamble, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that denying prisoners necessary medical care amounts to deliberate indifference and violates their constitutional rights. Incarcerated individuals are entitled to proper treatment for serious medical needs.
Legal Options for Survivors of California Prison Abuse
If you or a loved one has experienced unlawful abuse while incarcerated, you may be able to pursue legal action. Here are some potential ways to take legal action:
Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA
The Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA, was enacted to combat sexual violence in correctional facilities. Facilities must implement measures to prevent, detect, and respond to incidents of sexual abuse. Violations of PREA can result in legal action.
Section 1983 Claims of the Civil Rights Act of 1871
Section 1983 provides that government employees and officials can be held personally liable for damages if they violate a person’s clearly established constitutional rights.
Federal Tort Claims Act
The Federal Tort Claims Act allows lawsuits against the U.S. government for negligence committed by federal employees, including correctional staff.
A lawyer is essential in California prison abuse cases because the laws and procedures are complex. Prisons and correctional staff usually invoke police immunity, which shields law enforcement from liability unless certain legal criteria are met. Survivors also face challenges when agencies withhold information or when abusers intimidate or threaten them.
Statute of Limitations for Prison Abuse Cases in California
California’s personal injury statute of limitations is typically two years from the date of the injury. However, cases involving police misconduct, such as assault or sexual abuse, follow different timelines and may require additional legal steps. Below is an overview of how those deadlines can differ:
- Sexual abuse: Adult victims have 10 years from the date of the abuse or three years from the discovery of the injury. Victims who suffered sexual abuse as a child generally have until their 40th birthday to file a claim. However, a 2024 amendment has abolished the deadline for all child sex abuse cases arising after its effective date.
- Assault and neglect: These, and other similar injuries, typically fall under California’s two-year filing deadline.
- Suing a government agency: Under the California Tort Claims Act, or CTCA, you must file a claim with the government agency within six months of the injury before pursuing a lawsuit. If your claim is denied, you have an additional six months from the date the denial is mailed to file a lawsuit in court.
Because California prison abuse lawsuit deadlines and procedures are complex, it’s crucial to consult an experienced civil rights attorney early. They can assess your case, determine the applicable deadlines, and develop the best legal strategy. Missing these deadlines can result in dismissal and loss of your right to compensation or justice.
Contact a Prison Abuse Lawyer Today
Police Brutality Center connects victims and their families to resources and a network of experienced prison abuse attorneys.
The attorneys we work with investigate claims, gather key evidence, and build strong cases against correctional institutions and those responsible for abuse. They will negotiate for a full settlement, and, if necessary, fight aggressively for you in court. They work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs. You only pay them if they win your case.
If you or a loved one has experienced abuse or neglect while incarcerated at Folsom State Prison’s Women’s Facility, get legal help today. Contact us for a free, confidential case review today.