Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Adult Prisons and Jails

• NCJ Number: 226682
• Date Published: June 2009
• Length: 98 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Guideline

Annotation

Subject to review and approval by the Attorney General of the United States, this report of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission presents its standards for the prevention, detection, response, and monitoring of sexual abuse in adult prisons and jails.

Abstract

The standards are presented in five categories that address prevention and response planning, prevention, detection and response, monitoring, and supplemental standards for facilities with immigration detainees. Following the presentation of standards for prevention planning and response planning, prevention standards are presented under the topics of training and education, along with screening for risk of sexual victimization and abusiveness. Standards for detection and response pertain to reporting, official response following an inmate report, investigations, discipline, and medical and mental health care. Monitoring standards address data collection and review, as well as audits. The supplemental standards for facilities with immigration detainees contain a section for supplemental standards for family facilities. Each standard statement contains mandatory requirements, and under each standard statement is an assessment checklist designed for agencies and facilities to use for self-assessments and the tracking of progress toward meeting the standard. Following each assessment checklist, a discussion section explains the rationale of the standard and offers guidance for complying with it. Appendixes contain the responsibilities of forensic medical examiners, training topics and procedures, guidance for incident-based data collection, a listing of Commission expert committee members, and information on the standards implementation needs assessment. When approved by the Attorney General, the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 requires agencies to comply with the Commission's proposed national standards in order to eliminate sexual abuse in confinement.