Female prisoners allege abuse by guards

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Inmates past and present say rape, sexual assault and harassment from male guards are a way of life for prisoners at an Alabama women's prison and the Justice Department is looking into the allegations.

Stephanie Hibbett spent a year locked up at the Julia Tutwiler Prison. She said in her time there, men had unrestricted access to the showers and bathrooms and would often make comments about female inmates' bodies, both to the women and among themselves.

She says she herself was a victim.

The Justice Department investigation comes after legal aid group Equal Justice Initiative filed a complaint asking it to look into allegations at Julia Tutwiler maximum-security prison.

The Alabama Department of Corrections says it aggressively pursues reports of abuse.