Rep. Chu Reacts to Planned Closure of FCI Dublin

"Every American, in every interaction they have with the criminal justice system, must be guaranteed access to basic human rights and dignity, including freedom from abuse. Public reports and FBI reviews vividly demonstrate this has long not been the case at FCI Dublin, which is why I have advocated for increased oversight and reforms at the facility. Today, the federal Bureau of Prisons informed me that they are moving forward with plans to close the facility. I will remain engaged with the Bureau of Prisons to ensure the women incarcerated at FCI Dublin are safely transferred to facilities that can best serve their individualized needs and that qualified employees retain their jobs. And I will continue working in Congress with Rep. Jay Obernolte to pass the bipartisan H.R. 6711, the Prison Staffing Reform Act, to direct the Bureau of Prisons to do a top-to-bottom review of understaffing issues across the agency. As FCI Dubin has shown, the inability to maintain proper staff ratios means serial abusers are kept on prison payrolls, subjecting incarcerated women in particular to sexual violence and harassment. Congress must ensure the Bureau of Prisons fully protects everyone in their custody and implements an accountability structure when facilities violate the constitutional rights of incarcerated people, up to and including permanently closing facilities."

Last month, Rep. Chu issued a statement responding to the FBI raid of the facility.