Former Correctional Officer Darrell Smith (Full Name: Darrell Wayne Smith) Accused of Sexually Abusing 3 Female Inmates At The Federal Correctional Institution In Dublin

DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA (September 5, 2023) – A former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin identified as Darrell Smith has been arrested after sexual abuse allegations.

Alameda County officials are saying that the abuse took place between 2019 and 2021. Darrell Smith is accused of sexually abusing three women in their prison cells and the prison’s laundry room.

So far, he is the sixth correctional officer at FCI Dublin to face criminal charges for sexual abuse. These arrests come after a report by the Associated Press that uncovered a culture of sexual abuse and cover-ups at the prison.

Darrell Smith is facing 12 counts of sexual abuse of a ward, aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Inmate Sexual Abuse At FCI Dublin

FCI Dublin has an a extremely poor track record. In fact, the female inmates there have nicknamed it “The rape club.” Sadly, sexual abuse across all prisons is fairly common. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Correctional administrators reported 27,826 allegations of sexual victimization in 2018, a 14% increase from the 24,514 reported in 2015. Of the 1,673 substantiated incidents of sexual victimization in 2018, about 58% were perpetrated by other inmates and 42% by staff.” There are many factors that can increase the prevalence of sexual abuse within a prison.

• Overcrowding can contribute to sexual abuse.
• Understaffing can increase the likelihood of sexual abuse.
• A lack of supervision can also lead to sexual abuse.
• Women are much more likely to be the victims of sexual violence.

Depending on the facts of any case, a prison could face civil liability for the sexual abuse of one of their correctional officers. If, for example, prison officials had actual or constructive knowledge of a correctional officer’s past violations which they failed to remedy, this could form the basis of a civil claim. It is also possible that prison officials were grossly negligent in monitoring one of their officers. Correctional officers are not supposed to be left alone with inmates, but this does happen and often leads to abuse. Sexual abuse can be extremely harmful in a number of ways.

• Victims of sexual abuse often suffer from anxiety and depression.
• Victims of sexual abuse may have persistent suicidal ideations.
• Victims of sexual abuse are more prone to suffer from chronic health conditions.

To combat inmate sexual abuse, jail officials must understand the factors that lead to victimization and predation. Sadly, though, the reality is that many prison officials are simply indifferent about sexual abuse within their ranks. By the time any correctional officer is arrested for sexual abuse, there were likely dozens of red flags that were missed. Any person that was sexually abused by a correctional officer may be able to seek some  measure of justice through a civil claim.

Getting Legal Help After Sexual Abuse At FCI Dublin

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to all of the women who may have been harmed by the actions of Darrell Smith. What has happened at FCI Dublin over several years is totally unacceptable. There needs to be some accountability from the top down.

Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused by a correctional officer at FCI Dublin? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of abuse are aware of their rights and that their assailants are held accountable. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.