BJA FY 15 PREA Program: Demonstration Projects to Establish “Zero Tolerance†Cultures for Sexual Assault in Correctional Facilities
In FY 2013 the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released the 2011-2012 findings from the most recent surveys of jail and prison inmates about incidences of sexual victimization.1 Based on this information, 4.0 percent of state and federal prison inmates, and 3.2 percent of jail inmates within the United States, reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another inmate or facility staff in the past 12 months or since admission to the facility.2 In juvenile facilities, the numbers were even more troubling. An estimated 9.5 percent of adjudicated youth in state juvenile facilities and state contract facilities (representing 1,720 youth nationwide) reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another youth or staff in the past 12 months or since admission, if less than 12 months.3 On June 20, 2012, DOJ published the Final Rule creating standards as required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The standards apply to adult prisons and jails, juvenile correctional facilities, police lockups, and community residential centers. The standards, which took effect on August 20, 2012, seek to prevent sexual abuse and to reduce the harm that it causes. The standards are grouped into 11 categories: prevention planning, responsive planning, training and education, screening for risk of sexual victimization and abusiveness, reporting, official response following an inmate report, investigations, discipline, medical and mental care, data collection and review, and audits.
Office: Office of Justice Programs
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