Justice Department Sues States for Abuse of Female Prison Inmates

Alleging that female inmates in state prisons have been sexually assaulted and subjected to unlawful invasions of privacy, the Justice Department sued Arizona and Michigan on March 10. The lawsuits, which seek a court order requiring the states to protect female inmates from rape, sexual assault and other improper sexual conduct, come after investigations of complaints of alleged sexual misconduct made in Michigan in 1994 and Arizona in 1995. The court order would also ensure that state-run prison inmates and staff not engage in sexual relations, and the department would also try to ensure appropriate privacy for female inmates when using showers or toilet facilities.