Central California Women’s Facility, or CCWF, is the largest female prison in the state of California. Located in the city of Chowchilla, the prison offers a variety of academic and job training programs for inmates, along with mental health services. Training is also provided to staff members to ensure that they meet the standards of “Correctional Professionalism.”
However, it’s clear that certain employees within California’s prison system fail to meet these standards. Abusive treatment by prison guards and other employees has been a serious problem for many years in California’s correctional facilities. No matter how an inmate ended up at CCWF, they have the right to civil and respectful treatment. In addition, they are entitled to justice if they are subjected to sexual abuse.
Are you a former or current inmate at CCWF, who is suffering from sexual assault by a prison employee? If so, contact our law firm to receive guidance from a Central California Women’s Facility sexual assault lawyer. You may be eligible for monetary compensation under California law, which we can discuss with you in detail during a free case evaluation.
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The Right to File a Sex Abuse Lawsuit as an Inmate
Sex abuse by correctional employees happens frequently in prison systems throughout California, no matter the population or security level. In fact, there are numerous lawsuit that have been filed against federal, state, and county facilities in the past few years by prisoners who were raped, sodomized, and sexually assaulted in other ways by prison staff members. These include medical professionals, chaplains, wardens, and social workers.
The first party that’s responsible for a sexual assault is the perpetrator. But those who were abused within a prison are under the protection of a government entity. Since CCWF is a state prison, the agency in charge is the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Under the law of vicarious liability, employers may be responsible for misconduct and negligence by their employees, when it causes injury to someone on their premises. In addition, the state agency may also be guilty of negligence, like failing to take action against the employee that’s been accused of sexual assault.
By turning a blind eye to these incidents, destroying evidence, and engaging in other acts of concealment, the prison system shares liability for the abuse of a prisoner at one of their facilities. This would give you the right to file a lawsuit against the State of California if you suffered sexual abuse during your stay at Central California Women’s Facility.
I am Currently Incarcerated – Can I File a Lawsuit?
Yes, you are absolutely entitled to legal action, including the right to an attorney if you are being sexually abused at a California state prison. By default, you lose many of the rights you would normally have once you are convicted of a crime. But incarceration doesn’t take away your right to sue if you’ve been injured due to negligence by the prison system.
One problem inmates come across is the grievance procedures they have to go through before they can seek damages from a lawsuit. The grievance process applies to all complaints of unfair or abusive treatment in the prison system, including unsanitary living conditions and abusive treatment from state prison employees.
Frankly, prison grievance procedures are incredibly complicated, and most inmates simply give up in their fight for justice. In their view, it’s easier to put up with the abuse from staff members instead of facing the possibility of retaliation, such as physical abuse and extra time added to their sentence.
The inmates’ civil rights lawyers of Normandie are here for you day and night, so contact us if you need legal advice and guidance from a qualified prison abuse lawsuit attorney. We are ready to take immediate action on your case and ensure that the responsible parties pay for the harm you’ve suffered as an inmate at Central California Women’s Facility.
What can I Do if I’m not Happy with my Lawyer?
Sexual abuse claims against government entities are extremely challenging cases due to the complex legal issues that are involved. Victims need dedicated attorneys that understand their pain and the need for justice from a prison sexual assault lawsuit. Sadly, many victims end up with lawyers that are lacking in these areas and need advice on what they can do if they have a pending sexual abuse claim.
Normandie Law Firm is ready to provide you with a free second opinion on your case. This is your chance to receive guidance from a correctional facility sex abuse lawyer. No matter what you’re going through, we are here to help if you believe that your case is headed in the wrong direction. Call our office as soon as possible to schedule a free second opinion.
Case Value of a Sexual Assault Lawsuit against CCWF
Government entities, like the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, have the highest duty of care to the inmates that are placed in their facilities. Thus, lawsuits for neglect that lead to sexual assault of a prisoner are generally high value cases. The emotional impact of sexual abuse is the most important factor with these lawsuits, along with the physical injuries, the specific acts that were involved, and the degree of negligence by the prison system. Settlements for a California prison sexual abuse lawsuit usually fall between $500,000 and $3,000,000. Keep in mind that these are based on awards obtained by our attorneys; settlements are much lower in cases where the victim represents themselves.
For a detailed consultation on the amount you can receive from a lawsuit against Central California Women’s Facility, contact us at our law firm.
How Long Does an Inmate Sexual Abuse Claim Take to Settle?
Sexual abuse injury claims are complicated enough to begin with, but this is particularly true when you are suing a government agency. Lawsuits against the government involve different procedures, including the need to file a claim with the appropriate agency prior to seeking justice from the court system. That’s why it can take anywhere from one to several years to settle a CCWF sexual assault lawsuit. To learn about the legal process and the issues that will impact your case timeline, schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
Time Limit to Sue a Government Agency for Sexual Assault
For adult victims of sexual abuse (18 or older), the statute of limitations for a lawsuit is 10 years from the date of the most recent incident. This is critical in cases where the victim is incarcerated for a long period of time and was subjected to years of sexual assault by a prison employee.
This deadline, by the way, applies to incidents that occurred on or before January 1, 2019. If you were abused prior to that date, the time limit for a compensation claim is 3 years. Fortunately, the California Legislature recently passed Assembly Bill 2777, aka the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act. This is a law that provides a 3-year window on sexual abuse cases that were expired under the old statute of limitations. In essence, victims now have until December 31, 2026 to explore the option of filing a sexual assault lawsuit against Central California Women’s Facility. Our lawyers are available to speak with you if you have questions about your rights under Assembly Bill 2777, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Attorneys with Experience in Sexual Abuse Claims against California Prisons
Sexual assault in state and federal prisons is a very common issue that affects countless inmates throughout California. Ironically, the same officers who are supposed to uphold the law are often the ones that perpetrate these acts. As a prisoner, you may feel that silence is the only option, but that’s not the case when you have the lawyers of Normandie by your side.
We have an experienced team of legal experts, who have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of child and adult sexual abuse victims. Many of our lawsuits involve public entities, like public school systems, state hospitals, juvenile halls, foster care agencies, and California state prisons. You can count on us to fight aggressively for your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.
With the Zero Fee Guarantee we offer to all our clients, we only get paid by winning your case and receiving a portion of your settlement award. That means you have nothing to worry about when it comes to legal fees for a sexual abuse lawsuit. Hopefully, we have given you the peace of mind to take a chance on us and reach out for a free case review with a California prison sexual assault lawsuit attorney.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Lawyer for Sexual Abuse Cases at Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin
Statute of Limitations for a Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in California
Can I get a Pre-Settlement Loan on my Catholic School Sexual Abuse Case
