OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Trump administration has launched a probe into reports of sexual misconduct and abuse in the state’s criminal justice system.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday, May 19 that it’s investigating Washington state’s practice of housing biological men in the state-operated Corrections Center for Women.

In a letter to Gov. Bob Ferguson, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon asked for the state’s full cooperation in the probe.

She said it was launched in response to reports of sexual and physical violence, harassment and intimidation by biological male prisoners identifying as female against biological female prisoners.

According to the Justice Department, it will determine whether the state deprived the prisoners of their Eighth Amendment protections from cruel and unusual punishment.

The DOJ said it hasn’t reached any conclusions regarding the allegations.

Ferguson and the state Attorney General’s Office have not yet responded to the letter.