A Justice Department report is criticizing the way female inmates are treated at Alabama's lone prison for women.
A study by the National Institute of Corrections says there have been reports of sexual abuse of female prisoners, and officials haven't always treated those complaints in the proper manner.
The report released Friday also says the prison is dirty and overcrowded, and it says staffers aren't trained well enough. The review found that inmates don't trust the prison's complaint system, and it cites claims that prisoners are disciplined for bringing up problems at Tutwiler, located in Wetumpka.
The department studied the prison after a Montgomery-based group leveled complaints of rape, harassment and sexual assault at Tutwiler last year.
Prison officials say they are changing policies to make improvements.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
