EspañolFederal Jury Convicts Former Correctional Officer John Bellhouse Of Sexually Abusing Female Inmates At The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin
DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA (June 8, 2023) – A former correctional officer identified as John Bellhouse was convicted of sexually abusing two female inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin.
The incidents occurred between December 2019 to December 2020, according to a press release by the Department of Justice. John Bellhouse was initially charged with two counts of sexual abuse and three counts of abusive sexual contact.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said “Correctional Officer Bellhouse committed an egregious breach of trust by using the cover of the BOP facility’s Safety Office to sexually abuse individuals in his custody.”
Evidence at trial showed that John Bellhouse abused the two inmates who were in his custodial, supervisory and disciplinary authority. Trial evidence also showed that the defendant engaged in oral sex with the victims in the prison safety warehouse.
Both counts of sexual abuse carry a maximum of 15 years in prison. Each count of abusive sexual conduct carries a maximum of 2 years in prison.
Liability For Sexual Abuse By Correctional Officers
Sexual abuse in state and federal prisons is unfortunately all too common. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, around 80,000 women and men are sexually abused in prison every year. Inmates at private prisons were twice as likely to report sexual victimization. Women tend to have it especially hard because most correctional officers are men. The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin has a particularly disturbing history. It has been nicknamed “The rape club” by female inmates. A total of six correctional officers have been arrested for sexual abuse as of May, 2023. There are steps that jails can take to prevent sexual abuse.
- Correctional officers should receive adequate training.
- There should be a healthy mix of male and female correctional officers in women’s prisons.
- Correctional officers should be properly supervised for the protection of inmates.
- Reports of abuse should be properly reported and thoroughly investigated.
It is against the law for correctional officers to have sex with inmates. Pursuant to California Penal Code 289.6 (a), “An employee or officer of a public entity health facility, or an employee, officer, or agent of a private person or entity that provides a health facility or staff for a health facility under contract with a public entity, who engages in sexual activity with a consenting adult who is confined in a health facility is guilty of a public offense.” Correctional officers hold a position of great authority over the inmates that they look after. It is therefore not possible for an inmate to be able to give meaningful consent for sexual activity.
Depending on the facts of any case, a prison could be liable if an inmate is sexually assaulted by a correctional officer. See, for example, Morris v. Eversley, 282 F. Supp. 2d 196 (S.D.N.Y. 2003). For a prison to be vicariously liable for the sexual assault of a correctional officer, they must have had actual or constructive knowledge of past violations for that officer that they failed to remedy. The prison could have been grossly negligent in supervising the offender or prison officers might have been deliberately indifferent to a known risk of harm. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of sexual abuse by correctional officers.
- A police report of the incident should be made.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- All reports of the offending correctional officer should be reviewed.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be consulted.
In many instances, jails know that certain correctional officers are likely abusing inmates. But far too often, prison superintendents turn a blind eye. Any person that is sexually abused by a correctional officer may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. Sadly, though, jails will often fight hard to deny liability when sexual abuse takes place within their ranks. This is why it is so important to seek legal counsel early on if you’ve been sexually abused within a jail.
Investigating Sexual Abuse Claims At FCI Dublin
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to the women who were harmed by the actions of John Bellhouse. Inmates are vulnerable and must be protected. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other instances of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused while staying at FCI Dublin? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of experienced civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are held to account when correctional officers abuse inmates. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
