Elizabeth Lozano, a survivor of sexual abuse while incarcerated in California, is calling for the release of prisoners who have been assaulted by prison staff. Lozano, who now advocates for women in prison, shared her harrowing experience at the California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Madera County, where she says guards sexually assaulted her and retaliated against those who filed grievances.
In August 2024, a leaked video showed guards rounding up incarcerated women, holding them in the cafeteria, and repeatedly using pepper spray and tear gas as punishment for filing sexual misconduct complaints. While some guards were fired and one was sentenced to 224 years for multiple counts of sexual assault, Lozano argues that little has changed for survivors who continue to face their abusers daily.
She emphasizes that the only way to ensure safety for these survivors is to release them from the prisons where they were assaulted. A 2024 report from a statewide working group on sexual abuse response and prevention supports this recommendation.
Lozano, who survived years of harassment and assault, including a guard putting his hands up her shirt and others touching themselves in front of her, says the state must update its policy to allow release after assault by staff. She calls for prioritizing releases for those in women’s facilities who face unsafe conditions, stating that California has the power to protect survivors by freeing them.