Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is blaming his predecessor for what the U.S. Justice Department is calling rampant sexual misconduct and abuse at the state’s women’s prison.

Brownback spokeswoman Sherriene Jones-Sontag said Thursday night that his administration has made immense strides in improving the treatment of inmates at the Topeka Correctional Facility.

She says the administration is confident that once federal officials have a more complete picture of the prison’s operations since the Justice Department began its investigation in 2011, they’ll conclude that inmates’ rights are not being violated.

Jones-Sontag says the problems arose and festered under Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who left office in April 2009.

But the Justice Department says the state failed to adequately deal with the problems even after a report by a national group in 2010.