CENTURY REGIONAL DETENTION FACILITY (CRDF) SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Representing Women Sexually Assaulted at Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) 

Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) is a women’s jail located in Lynwood, California. Also known as the Lynwood jail or Los Angeles jail for women, CRDF has housed all female inmates in Los Angeles County who are awaiting arraignment or trial since 2006. It is one of seven jails operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LACSD).

As with other women’s jails and prisons in California, CRDF has earned a reputation as a facility where officials failed to protect female inmates from rampant sexual abuse at the hands of Sheriff’s Deputies. This reputation is supported by years of substantiated claims from female inmates, as well as criminal cases against Deputies, public audits, civil lawsuits, and high-profile settlements.

At Levy Konigsberg, our nationally recognized trial lawyers are leading the fight for former female inmates abused at female-only jails and prisons across California. If you were sexually abused or assaulted by a Sheriff’s Deputy, jail staff member, or volunteer while serving time at CRDF, you may be eligible to pursue legal action and a financial recovery of your damages.

The History of Sexual Abuse at CRDF

The history and enablement of sexual abuse at CRDF includes the following allegations and investigations:

• In October 2025, a lawsuit was filed by 38 current and former detainees at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California, alleging that male deputies watched inmates shower, groped them, made comments about their appearance, and retaliated against them for reporting abuse.

• In November 2023, former deputy Jonathan Tejada Paredes was arrested due to a sexual assault allegation involving a woman incarcerated CRDF.

• In July 2020, Roy’ce Bass was arrested and charged with four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a detainee after an investigation into misconduct with at least one inmate while he was a custody assistant at CRDF between August 2017 and January 2018.

• In September 2019, LACSD Deputy Giancarlo Scotti was sentenced to two years in prison as part of a plea deal in which the former deputy pleaded no contest to engaging in sexual activity with female inmates. Scotti had been charged with sexually assaulting six female inmates, whose ages ranged from 24 to 42, while he was a guard at CRDF. The County ultimately reached several high-profile settlements with women assaulted by Scotti. For example:

• • In February 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed to pay $950,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former CRDF inmate who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Deputy Giancarlo Scotti during her incarceration.
  • In October 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized a $325,000 payout to settle claims brought by another victim of Deputy Giancarlo Scotti.
  • In November 2018, the County agreed to pay a total of $3.9 million to settle a lawsuit brought by two former CRDF inmates and a potential suit by a third inmate who claimed they were sexually assaulted by Deputy Giancarlo Scotti in 2017 and that LACSD officials were aware of Scotti’s assaults on numerous inmates, but failed to stop him. One of the lawsuits, which settled for $2.25 million, alleged that Scotti forced an inmate to expose herself and perform oral sex on him, and that Scotti entered another inmate’s cell, ordered her to the showers, and forced her to engage in oral sex before raping her. The suit also alleged that Scotti threatened one of the victims to remain quiet about the abuse and that both inmates had certain privileges taken away after they reported the incidents. Another claim involving a third inmate was settled for $1.65 million.
• In May 2019, The Guardian published an article about recent settlements paid by Los Angeles County over sexual abuse at CRDF, and featured the story of a former inmate who was motivated to become an activist with the grassroots organization Dignity and Power Now after she was assaulted and abused by two different employees during her incarceration at CRDF in 2011. The article also shared insight from other former female inmates about their time at the Lynwood jail. This includes reports of guards exchanging favors or special privileges for sexual acts, sexual relationships between inmates and deputies, and an incident in which a medical staffer masturbated in front of a female inmate.

• In March 2018, the Los Angeles Times published a preliminary report of the CRDF’s compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), a 2003 law that requires basic safeguards to protect inmates from sexual assault and harassment.

The leaked report found that the Lynwood jail failed on nearly every standard required under the PREA, failed to properly investigate and document incidents of sexual misconduct between male staff and female inmates, and enabled a toxic culture in which inmates feared retaliation for stepping forward with their claims.

Some notable findings from the report:

• • Auditors found that the facility met just 2 of 43 safety standards required under the PREA
  • Auditors noted several issues during an October 2017 on-site review, including a lack of privacy for female inmates while they showered and changed in their cells.
  • Auditors documented that they faced resistance from administrators who denied their requests to review investigative, grievance, personnel, medical, and mental health files.
  • Auditors stated that it was unclear whether allegations of sexual misconduct between staff and inmates were systematically recorded.
  • The report included many recommendations for corrective action, including expansive overhauls in prevention planning, responsive planning, training and education, risk screening, reporting, handling of inmate complaints, investigations, discipline, medical and mental health care, and data collection and review.

• In 2010, a class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of female prisoners at CRDF who allegedly underwent humiliating strip and visual body cavity searches. These searches took place outdoors in a bus garage area, where women were forced to undress in front of other inmates. Many women were made to stand in oil from idling buses, which was mixed with blood from previous menstruating prisoners. Guards allegedly cursed and ridiculed the naked women. Those who were menstruating were instructed to remove their pads and tampons, and without the opportunity to wash their hands, they were ordered to use their fingers to open their mouths for inspection. The searches often occurred in cold weather, including during rain, and at times, male staff could observe the procedures. 

Los Angeles County later agreed to a settlement of $53 million for these searches conducted from March 2008 to January 2015, which were described as bordering on sexual assault.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other women's prison staff member.
• The abuse occurred at any women's prison.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold women's prisons,  youth residential treatment facilities, juvenile detention centers, private healthcare companies, and other facility operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect female inmates.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

California Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Sexual abuse lawsuits, like other claims brought by plaintiffs who seek damages for injuries, are subject to a legal deadline known as the statute of limitations. When the statute of limitations expires, victims are not able to file claims or recover compensation.

Fortunately, California has recognized that the statute of limitations can act as a barrier to justice for sexual abuse survivors, which research has shown can take years or decades to come to terms with their abuse and the damages it had caused. As such, California passed the Child Victims Act in 2019 to extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits. Under the CA Child Victims Act, survivors sexually abused as minors can file claims until age 40 (22 years after turning 18).

In addition, the “Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act” (AB 2777) gives greater protection to those sexually abused when they were 18 years or older. AB 2777 facilitates the pursuit of justice and accountability, enabling survivors to seek legal recourse against institutions that concealed or enabled the abuse. Under existing law, survivors abused when 18 or older may file a lawsuit within 10 years from the date of the abuse and survivors abused after January 1, 2009 may file until December 2026 for any claim that would otherwise be time-barred.

Determining the statute of limitations that applies to your sexual abuse case against a California entity can be challenging, which is why it is best to bring your matter to the attention of an experienced lawyer.

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at any California women's prison.

Levy Konigsberg is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in representing survivors of sexual abuse in women's prisons. With extensive experience in handling cases of staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct, we have successfully advocated for hundreds of former female inmates across the United States, ensuring that survivors receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Our commitment to holding perpetrators and negligent institutions accountable makes us a trusted ally in the fight against sexual abuse in correctional facilities. If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse while incarcerated, Levy Konigsberg offers compassionate and professional legal support to help navigate this challenging time.