Corey Weinstein, MD, California Prison Focus, 1199 Sanchez, San Francisco, CA 94114, 415-333-8228, coreman@igc.org

In California during the summer of 2003 the largest prison for women in the world instituted a search procedure that involved sexual molestation of the prisoners by male guards. The prisoners and a coalition of local human rights groups were able to reverse the policy through a vigorous public campaign. But the victory was bittersweet as we learned we had been desensitized to the daily abuse women have been suffering. The remaining policy that requires routine pat down search of women by male guards in California’s prisons is not allowed in most other penal institutions. Despite law and common practice that does not allow male staff to touch female prisoners, California continues to abuse its 10,000 women in prison. Lessons of the campaign and future activity will be discussed. The relationship of the pat search rules and the presence of male custodial staff assigned to women’s housing units will be explored.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to understand practical problems of human rights advocacy, and recognize the context of assisting incarcerated women in the US.

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Prison

Related Web page: www.prisons.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.