DOJ to Investigate Maine and California Over Housing Men in Women's Prisons

Federal investigations will assess whether states violated female inmates' constitutional rights.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 7:08am

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The U.S. Department of Justice has notified the governors of Maine and California that it is launching federal investigations into those states' practices of housing male inmates in women's prisons. The DOJ says the investigations will assess whether the states have violated the constitutional rights of female prisoners.

Why it matters

The investigations highlight ongoing debates over transgender rights, prison policies, and the potential risks to female inmates when male prisoners are housed in women's correctional facilities. The outcomes could have significant implications for how states manage their prison systems and balance concerns over safety, civil rights, and inclusion.

The details

In California, the DOJ investigation involves female prisoners at the California Institution for Women and the California Women's Facility. In Maine, the federal government is assessing potential issues at the Maine Correctional Center. The DOJ says there have been 'allegations of sexual assaults, rape, voyeurism, and a pervasive climate of sexual intimidation' due to the presence of male inmates in women's prisons.

  • On March 27, 2026, the DOJ notified the governors of Maine and California about the investigations.

The players

Janet Mills

The Democratic governor of Maine.

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic governor of California.

Pamela Bondi

The U.S. Attorney General.

Harmeet Dhillon

The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

Bill Essayli

The First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

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What they’re saying

“Keeping men out of women's prisons is not only common sense – it's a matter of safety and constitutional rights. The Trump Administration will not stand by if governors are facilitating the abuse of biological women under the guise of inclusion.”

— Pamela Bondi, U.S. Attorney General

“Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow women incarcerated in jails or prisons to be subject to unconstitutional risks of harm from male inmates. These investigations will uncover whether the dangerous national trend of housing men in women's prisons has resulted in violations of women's constitutional rights.”

— Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

“California's Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act has provided none of these qualities to the female inmates of state prisons who have been forced to share space with biological men who are violent felons. Our Constitution protects women from having their civil rights violated by harmful state legislation wrapped in the language of 'equity' and 'progress.'”

— Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney, Central District of California

What’s next

The DOJ investigations will examine whether the states of Maine and California have violated the constitutional rights of female inmates by housing male prisoners in women's correctional facilities.

The takeaway

These DOJ investigations highlight the ongoing tensions between transgender rights, prison policies, and the safety and civil liberties of female inmates. The outcomes could have far-reaching implications for how states manage their prison systems and balance concerns over inclusion, security, and constitutional protections.