By Redaccion
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The federal Bureau of Prisons is permanently shutting down its women’s prison in Dublin, California—infamously dubbed the “rape club”—and will close or idle six other facilities in a significant realignment effort, The Associated Press has learned.
On Thursday, the agency informed Congress and its employees about plans to permanently close the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin and deactivate minimum-security camps in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Florida. Inmates and staff will be relocated to other facilities, according to the agency.
In a document obtained by the AP, the Bureau of Prisons described its actions as “decisive and strategic,” aimed at addressing critical issues such as staffing shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, and budget constraints. The agency emphasized that it is not reducing staff but is committed to finding new positions for all affected employees.
This move marks a pivotal moment in the Biden administration’s oversight of the Justice Department’s largest agency. Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters, who previously pledged to reform problematic facilities like FCI Dublin, is now prioritizing closures and consolidations due to inadequate staffing and the immense costs of repairing aging facilities.
The closure of FCI Dublin comes seven months after a temporary shutdown following a series of staff-on-inmate abuses that earned the prison its notorious reputation. The decision highlights the Bureau of Prisons’ inability—or unwillingness—to rehabilitate its most troubled institutions.
The agency’s decision also mirrors its actions three years ago when it closed the federal jail in Manhattan after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide. That closure followed revelations of lax security, staffing shortages, and hazardous conditions, including falling concrete and broken cells.
While some facilities are being closed, the Bureau of Prisons is also building a new medium-security prison and minimum-security camp in Roxana, Kentucky, to house approximately 1,400 inmates. Congress has allocated $500 million for the project, citing a need for modern facilities.
Staffing and Infrastructure Concerns
The Bureau of Prisons has repeatedly requested additional funding from Congress, pointing to a multibillion-dollar repair backlog, inadequate staff retention efforts, and outdated facilities. Over half of federal prisons were built before 1991, leaving many of them obsolete or unsafe.
The agency believes reassigning employees to other facilities will help reduce mandatory overtime and “augmentation,” a controversial practice where non-custodial staff, like teachers and nurses, are assigned to guard inmates.
An infrastructure assessment conducted after FCI Dublin’s temporary closure in April revealed significant repairs would be needed to reopen the prison. High living costs in the Bay Area and persistent staffing shortages also contributed to the decision to close it permanently.
“This decision reflects the difficult choices we must make in a challenging budgetary and staffing environment. FCI Dublin will not reopen,” the agency said.
A Legacy of Abuse and Lawsuits
FCI Dublin’s permanent closure is an extraordinary acknowledgment of the Bureau of Prisons’ failure to address systemic abuse and misconduct. Hundreds of former inmates at the prison have filed lawsuits against the agency, seeking compensation and demanding reforms.
An AP investigation has uncovered extensive misconduct within the Bureau of Prisons, including widespread criminal activity by employees, frequent escapes, and severe staffing shortages that have hampered responses to emergencies.
In response to these systemic issues, President Joe Biden signed legislation in July aimed at strengthening oversight of the Bureau of Prisons.
Additional Facility Closures
In addition to FCI Dublin, the Bureau of Prisons is closing its minimum-security camps in Pensacola, Florida; Duluth, Minnesota; and Morgantown, West Virginia. It is also suspending operations at satellite camps adjacent to federal prisons in Oxford, Wisconsin; Littleton, Colorado; and Loretto, Pennsylvania.
These minimum-security facilities, which house low-risk offenders, often feature dormitory-style accommodations and little to no fencing. However, they have been plagued by frequent escapes and contraband smuggling.
The Pensacola camp, located on Navy-owned property, is in severe disrepair and will be demolished. Roughly 500 inmates and 100 staff members will be relocated. Duluth’s camp, affected by aging infrastructure and contamination from asbestos and lead paint, will also close, with 736 inmates and 90 staff reassigned.
Morgantown’s facility will shut down, with 400 inmates and 150 employees moved to the nearby federal prison complex in Hazelton, West Virginia.
The Bureau of Prisons cited infrastructure concerns and cost inefficiencies, including an estimated $26 million needed for repairs at the FCI Englewood camp in Littleton.
These closures underscore the agency’s struggle to maintain aging facilities while attempting to address staffing shortages and safety concerns.
