The Serial Abuse Women Face in California's Prison System

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KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

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Summary

Since 2014, inmates inside California’s womens’ prisons have filed hundreds of complaints of sexual abuse carried out by guards, yet just four officers have been fired, and only four have been prosecuted. In a new investigation for The Guardian, reporter Sam Levin outlines the culture of silence and intimidation inside of California’s prison system, and why it’s often the victims who get punished. We speak with Levin about what he found and hear from Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, an advocacy group that has been calling for an independent body to investigate the reports of abuse. Guests: Amika Mota, executive director and founding member, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition Sam Levin, senior criminal justice reporter, the Guardian US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:59.4	From KQBD in San Francisco, this is Forum. I'm Mina Kim. Since 2014, women in California's
1:22.5	prisons have filed hundreds of complaints of sexual abuse by guards, yet few officers have been
1:27.4	prosecuted or fired.
1:29.1	A new investigation for the Guardian sheds light on why, bringing forward the experiences of
1:33.6	survivors and what they face when they try to report misconduct.
1:37.5	Advocates are calling for independent investigations and an end to prison conditions that enable
1:42.2	assaults, and with the arrest earlier this year of a former guard on 96 abuse charges,
1:48.5	they're wondering if this time they'll be heard.
1:51.9	Join us. Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim.
2:07.6	A three-part series by The Guardian finds that when women in California's prisons report sexual assault or abuse by guards,
2:14.6	few officers face consequences, even when they're substantial evidence.
2:19.1	This takes an immense toll on survivors who are often punished for coming forward.
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