BLH Files Suit on Behalf of El Paso Woman Repeatedly Raped by Staff at Fort Worth Federal Women's Prison Medical Facility
April Lacey was sent to the FMC Carswell Unit in Fort Worth due to medical reasons. While there she was repeatedly raped by FMC Carswell employees including twice while she suffered from Covid-19. Government documents show that many sexual assaults have occurred at FMC Carswell. It is one of the most dangerous facilities in the United States. See lawsuit here:
April was released from federal custody in 2022 and resides in El Paso.
From 2012 to 2022, FMC Carswell had the highest number of cases of staff sexually abusing women in federal custody, substantiated through federal criminal prosecution or BOP Office of Internal Affairs investigation. The number of victims acknowledge totaled 22, which is substantially higher than other federal correctional facilities that house women. The only federal prison to nearly match FMC Carswell in number of victims is FCI Dublin, a federal prison that infamously hosted a “rape club” of correctional officers.
“It’s not right for the staff to prey on us. Being raped was not part of my sentence. I am still living with the pain today. I’ve found the courage to speak about it and file this lawsuit because I don’t want this to keep happening to women at Carswell. I hope someone will protect them.” April Lacey
“When the Government takes someone into their custody, they must be able to keep them safe. Safe from other inmates and safe from staff. FMC Carswell is not safe and has not been safe. The Bureau of Prisons is consistently failing to protect the most vulnerable women in their care. There is and can be no excuse for what happened to Ms. Lacey.” David B. Rankin, Partner at Beldock Levine & Hoffman, LLP.
"This is a horror show which must stop," said civil rights lawyer Randall Kallinen, "We need people to speak out about all these rapes by federal employees at the Carswell medical facility."
"FMC Carswell has repeatedly failed to address sexual violence that staff members inflict on incarcerated women. This inaction enables and protects sexual abusers, and assures that sexual abuse will continue.” Regina Powers, Associate at Beldock Levine & Hoffman, LLP.
Ms. Lacey and her lawyers will hold a press conference to call for an end to the abuse at FMC Carswell and throughout the Federal Prison system.
Ms. Lacey is represented by Randall Kallinen and Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP, the firm who represented Eric Garner, members of the Central Park 5, and co-counseled Floyd, the stop-and-frisk litigation. Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP also was counsel in the Sow v. City of New York litigation resulting in the largest settlement in a protester class action in United States history. www.blhny.com.
For more documents related to this lawsuit, click through this link: https://we.tl/t-4mPuVzg0Ru
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