Asbestos and mold make California’s Dublin federal prison a dangerous place, and complaints have been ignored by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, The Associated Press reported in April. 

“Management’s failure to address unsafe and dangerous working conditions at FCI [Federal Correctional Institution] Dublin has put the health and safety of both employees and inmates at considerable risk,” said Edward Canales, Dublin union president. 

A federal watchdog reported a “substantial likelihood” that the Bureau of Prisons ignored complaints and failed to act to correct the problems, AP stated. 

The complaints were filed by Dublin union officials. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel asked Attorney General Garland to submit a report within 60 days. 

“We look forward to the outcome of this investigation, which we hope will result in the unsafe conditions being remedied …” said Canales. 

Repeated requests and concerns of workplace contamination from correctional officers, prison workers and inmates were all ignored, AP reported. 

A newly created task force of 18 senior BOP executives visited the prison in March and is working to reform the facility while the BOP said staff is doing weekly inspections and encouraging staff to report unsafe or unhealthy conditions at the facility. 

The Dublin prison is also the focus of an investigation into reported sexual abuse of female inmates.