What happened inside the Central California Women’s Facility, known to most as Chowchilla Women’s Prison, is not a story of isolated misconduct. It is a record of sustained institutional failure. For years, correctional officers at Chowchilla used their authority to coerce, manipulate, and abuse incarcerated women. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation received warnings. Complaints were filed. Those in charge did not act.
Hundreds of survivors have now come forward. Their lawsuits describe repeated sexual assaults, unwanted touching, threats of retaliation, and an entrenched system that protected the abusers. These women were not protected by the state. They were targeted by it.
If you or someone you care about was abused at Chowchilla, you do not have to remain silent. Survivors are filing lawsuits to hold the system accountable. You have the right to pursue justice.