Resources

Webchats

Fundng PREA Reforms in Correctional Settings - The Project on Addressing Prison Rape - February 2009
Over the past ten years, we have worked to identify, address and respond to sexual violence in institutional settings – both staff-on-inmate and inmate- on-inmate. However, with the PREA Standards nearly completed and funding winding down for PREA mandated projects, we think it is important to discuss how we move forward to meet the needs of the field of corrections. In this web chat, we discussed the following subjects:

  • What have you done to identify, address and respond to sexual violence?
  • How have those actions helped you to identify, address and respond to sexual violence?
  • What do you need moving forward to continue to identify, address and respond to sexual violence effectively?

Legal Tools for Responding to Sexual Abuse in Custody - The Project on Addressing Prison Rape - October 2008
Over the past ten years, we have worked to identify and develop legal tools for addressing sexual violence in institutional settings – both staff-on-inmate and inmate- on-inmate. Those tools aim to not only sanction sexual violence in custody, but to increase reporting of sexual violence by staff and to provide information about past sexually abusive behavior toward inmates.  In identifying tools, we have examined laws in each state on: staff sexual misconduct; sexual assault (including sodomy); vulnerable persons; statutory rape; mandatory reporting; sex offender registration; and assault and battery. In this web chat, we responded to questions that many have asked over the years including:

  • What are the legal tools for punishing staff for sexual abuse of offenders?
  • Are there particular statutes that could help to address staff failure to report misconduct and abuse?
  • Are correctional staff mandatory reporters of sexual violence against adults?
  • Are inmates considered vulnerable persons?
  • What are agency obligations for juveniles? For juveniles in adult settings?

For the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied this webchat click here.
For a transcript of theis webchat click here.

Special Concerns of Juvenile Justice Professionals - The Project on Addressing Prison Rape - March 2008
On June 1, 2006 The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission held a public hearing focusing on issues concerning juvenile populations. Testimony from that hearing brought to light questions regarding the implications of PREA for juvenile justice agencies.  The hearing raised many issues including: policies preventing youth on youth sexual contact; training on “normal” adolescent development; medical and mental health care; and management and operational practice standards that will work in the various agencies housing or supervising youth. The chat will explore these issues and discuss policy and other  challenges in implementing PREA for juvenile justice agencies. 

For the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied this webchat click here.
For a transcript of theis webchat click here.

Cross Gender Supervision - The Project on Addressing Prison Rape - November 2007
Two recent cases, Heckenlaible v. Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail Authority, 2007 WL 1732385 (E.D.Va.) and Cash v. County of Erie, 2007 WL 2027844 (W.D. N.Y. July 11, 2007) have reinforced the need to revisit the issue of cross gender supervision in correctional settings.  While Title VII requires for equal job opportunities for both men and women, courts have acknowledged that in some instances gender can be a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) in certain positions in correctional facilities – particularly those where men may supervise women inmates. The chat will explore these issues; discuss the availability of  BFOQ positions in correctional facilities; and discuss policy and other challenges in implementing same gender supervision. 

For the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied this webchat click here.
For a transcript of theis webchat click here

Sexual Victimization in Prisons: Moving Toward Elimination - Harvard Law School
According to a report released in December of 2007 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 60,500 state and federal prisoners reported one or more incidents of sexual victimization within the year. Nationwide, 2.1 percent of inmates reported an incident involving another inmate, and 2.9 percent reported an incident involving facility staff members. The results come from research mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which establishes a zero-tolerance standard for the incidence of rape in U.S. prisons. Previously only a few, small research studies investigated sexual violence in correctional institutions. Further, as the rate of women's imprisonment has increased over the past 20 years, so has the interest in women's prison research - the studies conducted highlight a culture of sex and adverse effects of victimization that are unique to female correctional settings, and must be considered. This expert chat, sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School's Government Innovators Network and the National Institute of Justice, featured a panel of experts who discussed the state of PREA research - what data is available and what's yet to come - and examined how we will move from better understanding to reliable prevention and eventual elimination. Ample time was allocated for audience Q&A. For more information on this webchat click here.

PREA Posters

This section is currently being updated- check back soon for examples of PREA posters. If you have an immediate need for poster examples please email us at endsilence@wcl.american.edu.

Podcasts

Exposing Sexual Violence Behind Bars: The Implementation Of The Prison Rape Act. WCL, November 2, 2006.

Radio

Juvenile Sex Offenders: Laws and Treatment Options. WAMU American University Radio, Washington, DC; The Kojo Nnamdi Show, March 22, 2007.

Male Prisoner Rape. KMOX Radio. St. Louis; Justice for All, April 1, 2007.

WHYY Philadelphia's Radio Times Stopping prison rape: What's it going to take?

Videoconferences

A Town Hall Meeting: Addressing the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, January 10, 2005.

Addressing Staff Sexual Misconduct with Offenders. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, December 12, 2001.

Achieving Excellence in Correctional Victim Services through Collaboration. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, 2006. (Broadcast pending 09/11/06-09/15/06)

Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth in Custody. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, June 28, 2006.

Videos

Facing Prison Rape: Part 1: How the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Affects. Dir. Pip Gilmour Productions. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, in collaboration with The Moss Group Inc., (CA 04S18GJA7), 2004.

Making Choices: Don’t Cross the Line. Dir. Arizona Department of Corrections Video Studios, 1999.

Responding to Prisoner Rape: Part 2: Assessing Your Agency’s Response to Prison Sexual Assault. Pip Gilmour Productions. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, in collaboration with The Moss Group Inc., (CA 04S18GJA7), 2005.

The Touch: Preventing Sexual Misconduct in Law Enforcement. Dir. Unknown. Co-Star International, Inc., 2000.

Turned Out: Sexual Assault Behind Bars Dir. Jonathan Schwartz. Interlock Media, Inc., 2004.

We Are Not Who You Think We Are. Dir. Robin Smith. Video/Action Fund, 1993.

Project Newsletters

October-December 2008
August/ September 2008
June/ July 2008
April/ May 2008
February/ March 2008
December 2007/ January 2008
October/ November 2007