FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 15, 2022

Senate Hearing on the Sexual Abuse in Federal Prison Epidemic Reveals Rampant Negligence of Abuse Reports and Failure to Protect Female Inmates

Three Survivors of Sexual Abuse While in Prison Share Personal Testimony About Their Fear and Losses

WASHINGTON – On December 13, 2022, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs held a hearing on Sexual Abuse of Female Inmates in Federal Prisons. During the first half of the hearing, three brave women came forward to testify to Congressional leaders about the horrific and repeated abuse they suffered while incarcerated. The emotional testimonies provided a personal addition to the committee’s report.

Government Accountability Project client, Linda De La Rosa, was one of the women who testified and shared her statement. While being held at a minimal security prison, Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Lexington, Kentucky, she experienced repeated assaults from a corrections officer making her life “a living hell.” Investigators knew he was a sexual predator and he continued to work at the facility during the investigation before his arrest and plead. Ms. De La Rosa also explained that she feared retaliation and punishment if she spoke up about her attacker.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) currently has a backlog of more than 8,000 complaints of misconduct that will take more than two years to review, according to BOP Office of Internal Affairs (OIA) Chief Reese. BOP OIA opened more than 5,000 misconduct cases involving 6,593 of the bureau’s 37,000 employees. More than 1,100 of those cases included sexual abuse or sexual harassment of women in prison.

David Seide, Of Counsel for Government Accountability Project and an attorney for Ms. De La Rosa, said:

“The hearing exposed in shocking detail federal prison staff sexually abusing defenseless inmates. It can and must be stopped. We thank our client, Linda De La Rosa, and the other brave whistleblower-victims who came forward yesterday to recount their personal horrors to Congress and the American people. Government Accountability Project is here to help.”

Linda De La Rosa is also represented by Bryan E. Busch of Busch Mills & Slomka LLP.

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Contact: Andrew Harman, Government Accountability Project Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.926.3304

Government Accountability Project  

Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.