FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2013
CONTACT: Bill Bird, (916) 651-4029
Senate Republicans Request Hearing on Reports of Coerced Sterilization of Female Prison Inmates
SACRAMENTO: Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) announced today that Senate Republicans have requested the Senate Committee on Public Safety convene an oversight hearing to investigate reports of the unapproved sterilization of at least 148 female inmates in state prisons by physicians under contract with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The request comes at the same time as the California Legislative Women’s Caucus has sent a letter seeking a response to the reports to Clark Kelso, the court-appointed federal receiver overseeing medical care in the state prisons.
“These allegations are alarming,” said Huff. “That they have occurred under the oversight of the federal Receiver’s Office which is charged with improving medical care in our prison system is even more concerning. We need to find out how this abuse of authority was allowed to happen and hold accountable those who participated.”
Click here for a link to the Senate Republicans’ letter requesting the hearing:
Senator Huff serves as the Senate Republican Leader and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Follow Senator Huff on Twitter @bobhuff99.
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