Local watchdogs sounded the alarm about the lack of transparency in how sexual abuse claims are investigated inside Los Angeles County women’s jail.  

“The public is not getting the truth from the Sheriff’s Department. We deserve real, accurate data about people being raped or assaulted in our jails, not hogwash,” said Hans Johnson, chair of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.

According to L.A.Times, at the end of 2025 a federal lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles, accusing male correctional officers of spying, harassing, and groping dozens of female detainees during “shower time” at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. The case came amidst renewed inquiries into how the Sheriff’s Department handles abuse claims.

The Times found that women held at the Lynwood Facility had more than 550 allegations of harassment and sexual abuse against staff since 2021, and those who filed the grievances received retaliation. Out of the hundreds of complaints processed, none were referred to the L.A. County district attorney’s office for prosecution, which is cause for concern.

Brian Dunn, the lead civil rights attorney for the Cochran Firm, filed a lawsuit on behalf of 38 women housed at the jail. He said the women shared “chilling” allegations of “brazen” harassment and sexual abuse.

“It seems to be happening with such frequency that it was like a practice…This is something that has been accepted,” Dunn said. “It’s heartbreaking for me to hear these women crying and the only thing I can do is sue.”

In response to the lawsuit, the Sheriff’s Department said a review of all claims is underway to ensure that proper administrative investigations were followed.

“The safety, dignity, and constitutional rights of every individual in our custody remains our top priority,” noted the department. “We are committed to transparent operations, through investigations, and maintaining the high standards of professional conduct.”

The civil complaint filed in the Central District of California stated the abuses occurred in Lynwood jail’s administrative segregation unit, better known as “the hole.” Allegations include male deputies watching nude women taking showers. This violates the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which prohibits “cross-gender viewing” by staff.

While escorting women to the showers, male guards would press their crotches up against handcuffed hands, “and intentionally fondle inmates’ hips, buttocks and bodies in a sexual manner,” noted the complaint.

The Times obtained a statement from the Sheriff’s Department claiming they maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding all forms of sexual abuse and harassment in its facilities, especially misconduct and abuse of authority.

Overseers of L.A County’s women’s jails include the Sybil Brand Commission, which documents sexual harassment and abuse complaints.

Commission Chair Haley Broder described the detainees as “some of the most vulnerable women on earth. They can’t do anything; they’re locked in a cell and being retaliated against if they report it.”

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center resident Steve Ramos said, “Nobody should be above the law.”

Through his personal road to redemption, Ramos said he has spent years learning about victim awareness, understanding character defects, and the causative factors of crime.

“Taking accountability for a crime, having empathy, remorse, and respect for the victim are the first steps toward healing,” Ramos said.

Ramos believes emotional and physical abuse cause trauma that will impact a person’s life forever. He said the healing process cannot begin until the perpetrators of abuse are held accountable for their actions.

“When correctional officers abuse their authority and take advantage of women in custody, the ripple effect is immeasurable,” Ramos said. He explained that the purpose of an officer’s job is public safety.

“If an officer is hurting somebody they are hired to protect, then their trust within the community is broken,” Ramos said. “Again, it all starts with accountability, and nobody should be above the law.”

SQRC transgender resident Cassandra Evans said there are privacy practices used inside her housing unit that protect members of the LGBTQ community when showering.

According to Evans, correctional officers at SQRC respect their privacy and help combat “cross-gender viewing.”

“For a while the CO’s would give us privacy screens to stop the ‘shower sharks’ from harassing us. Now we shower after everybody else is locked down,” which she said resolved the issue.

In regard to the women at the L.A. jail Evans said, “Male officers should never oversee females in custody during shower time. Stop it!”

Retired L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman told the Times he believes that the L.A. Sheriff’s Department is “not in compliance with PREA in many senses.”

Huntsman added that the allegations of abuse in the Lynwood women’s case are “one of the many times when the county could have avoided litigation by simply correcting conditions.”

Brian Dunn, attorney representing the victimized women, many of whom are still in custody, said, “Behind every one of those paragraphs in that complaint is a human story.”