Executive Summary
- Eleven women have filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by staff at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Defendants include the United States government and a high-ranking Bureau of Prisons official.
- The facility has a documented history of misconduct, with 13 staff convictions since 1997.
- Plaintiffs allege that prison administrators failed to investigate reports and allowed abuse to persist.
- The Bureau of Prisons stated it takes allegations seriously but declined to comment on specific litigation.
Eleven women currently or formerly incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, have filed civil lawsuits alleging they were subjected to rampant sexual abuse by facility staff. The filings, lodged in the federal District of Columbia court, name the United States and Beth Reese, the chief of the Bureau of Prisons (BoP) office of internal affairs, as defendants. The plaintiffs assert claims including negligence, sexual battery, and violations akin to human trafficking.
According to the lawsuits, the allegations span the past seven years and identify six specific staff members as perpetrators, including a doctor, a chaplain, and three correctional officers. Several plaintiffs allege they were assaulted by the head of the facility’s BioMed office. The legal complaints suggest a pattern where prison officials ignored reports of misconduct. One plaintiff, an Army veteran identified as Priscilla Ellis, stated in interviews that she was abused for over a year, describing the environment as "human trafficking behind prison walls."
FMC Carswell has faced scrutiny regarding sexual misconduct for decades. A Senate report previously noted that 22 women were sexually assaulted at the prison between 2012 and 2022, the highest number for any federal women’s prison during that period. Since 1997, 13 staff members at the facility have been convicted of abuse and misconduct. In the recently filed suits, plaintiffs argue that administrators were slow to investigate reports and that some accused staff members had prior complaints against them that were not thoroughly vetted.
Benjamin Cole, a spokesperson for the BoP office of public affairs, stated that the bureau "takes all allegations of sexual abuse seriously and investigates credible allegations thoroughly." The agency declined to comment on specific cases or employment records, citing privacy and security concerns. The United States government has filed motions to transfer the cases from Washington, D.C., to the Northern District of Texas, a move granted by a judge in at least one instance.
The lawsuits detail specific incidents of alleged violence. One plaintiff, identified as Justina, alleges she was raped by an officer in a shower in 2022. Her complaint states that when she reported the assault to a nurse, she was told the officer had previously been reported for inappropriate contact. Another plaintiff, identified as Jane Zoe, alleges she was sexually abused by a prison therapist and later by a chaplain. Attorneys for the women argue that the Bureau of Prisons has failed to provide requested abuse reports and investigation records.
Institutional Oversight and Legal Implications
The consolidation of these lawsuits highlights persistent challenges regarding inmate safety and staff accountability within the federal prison system. The allegations at FMC Carswell raise critical questions about the enforcement of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and the efficacy of internal disciplinary mechanisms, particularly the practice of allowing staff to resign in lieu of investigation. As these civil cases proceed, likely within the Texas federal court system, they will serve as a litmus test for the judicial recourse available to incarcerated individuals alleging constitutional violations. It is important to note that the claims detailed in these lawsuits are allegations, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
