ASSESSMENT OF PRISONER AND MANAGEMENT RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE TEXAS PRISON SYSTEMNational Institute of JusticeCallendar Year Audit Period

In 2002, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) launched a Safe Prison Program. This initiative is focused on improving the accuracy of reporting sexual assaults in the Texas prison system and in implementing new policies and security procedures to reduce the risk of such incidents from occurring in the future. Since 2002, there have been over 700 allegations of prison rape. This study will consist of three components that will rely upon quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine these officially reported crimes. The study has the active support of the TDCJ and will be completed in 12 months. It is divided into three phases that will examine an estimated 900 cases of alleged sexual violence reported to and investigated by the TDCJ. A subset of 100 cases will be examined in more detail to identify those 'environmental factors' that may have contributed to the crime. The fourth phase will address the macro level of prison management and design to see how these factors may influence the incidence of prison rape. Collectively, this analysis will improve the TDCJ risk assessment process, the reporting of such crimes, and the use of management, security, staff and prisoner awareness to lower the risk of sexual assault. ca/ncf