Chapter 101: Voices From The Inside-The Dublin Prison Scandal w/ Tess Korth
Today, I sit down with Tess Korth, the whistleblower who exposed rampant abuse and systemic corruption at FCI Dublin, a federal women’s prison in California once dubbed “the rape club” by those who lived and worked within its walls. Tess shares her...
Today, I sit down with Tess Korth, the whistleblower who exposed rampant abuse and systemic corruption at FCI Dublin, a federal women’s prison in California once dubbed “the rape club” by those who lived and worked within its walls. Tess shares her firsthand experiences working inside a prison where the power dynamics turned predatory and silence was enforced through fear. Throughout her 25-year career, she witnessed not only the abuse of incarcerated women by staff but also the institutional cover-ups that followed. Tess faced retaliation, ostracization, and threats when she decided to speak out, but she didn’t back down. In our conversation, Tess walks us through the moment she knew she had to blow the whistle, the emotional toll of breaking the silence, and the slow grind for justice in a system stacked against transparency.
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Tess Korth
Tess Korth is a former federal correctional officer and nationally recognized prison reform advocate, with over 25 years of service at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California. Throughout her career, she became known for her compassion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the rehabilitation and dignity of incarcerated women.
Tess was a driving force behind the introduction of rehabilitative programming focused on healing and reentry preparation. While earning her Master’s degree in Public Administration, she developed one of the first gender-specific release preparation programs tailored to the needs of incarcerated women. She submitted the program to the Bureau of Prisons’ Administration, and shortly thereafter, it was adopted and introduced across the system—marking a critical step forward in gender-responsive corrections long before such approaches were widely embraced.
Her dedication didn’t stop at program development. Tess worked to create a culture of respect inside the facility and actively supported women in their personal growth. However, when she began reporting misconduct and abuse by fellow officers, she faced retaliation. In what she viewed as a punitive measure, she was reassigned to a male facility in Oregon. Refusing to be silenced or compromised, Tess made the difficult decision to resign from her post in 2022.
Since leaving the Bureau of Prisons, Tess has become a bold and credible voice in the national movement for prison reform. Her story has been featured on 60 Minutes and other national media outlets, w… Read More
