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LIBRARY : POLICY & PRACTICE: Policy Development and Promising Practices
Report on Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails
This report by the U.S. Department of Justice's Review Panel on Prison Rape concludes that prisons and jails that are able to keep inmates safe from sexual abuse have well-trained staff, committed leaders, and strong oversight. The report summarizes the findings from the Review Panel’s 2011 hearings on U.S. prisons and jails with especially high and low rates of sexual victimization.
Texas FY2010 Safe Prisons Program Report
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates a Safe Prisons Program for the purpose of preventing and limiting offender-on-offender sexual assaults, physical assaults, and extortion. The TDCJ strives to maintain the safety and security of all offenders incarcerated within the agency.
Building Trust Between the Police and the Citizens They Serve
Classification and Sexual Safety Workshop
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funded a meeting that brought together content experts to discuss the issue of classification, particularly as it relates to the PREA draft standards. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity to assemble a small group of researchers and practitioners to identify the state of current research and practice, to discuss the challenges in the field, and to make recommendations to BJA and the U.S. Attorney General regarding strategies for improving classification as a means to contribute to sexual safety in jails and
prisons.
Sexual Assault in Jail and Juvenile Facilities: Promising Practices for Prevention and Response: Final Report
This is essential reading for anyone tasked with eradicating the sexual assault of incarcerated individuals. Eleven promising practices are described: leaders who promote values; officials who seek better ways of managing the inmate population; open communication; recruitment and hiring of well-rounded individuals, mentoring, and succession planning; staff training; direct supervision; effective programs and services; an objective classification system; a comprehensive and independent investigation process; a system for data-driven decision making; and officials committed to correcting mistakes. Appendixes are also included that provide valuable information: literature review; inmate-on-inmate sexual assault investigation, a case description; a guide to effective medical response to prison sexual violence; effective victim services; and “Building Blocks for Institutional Safety” bulletins.
Policies Related to Sexual Misconduct
This collection of policy directives regarding prison rape and staff sexual misconduct is from the Montana Department of Corrections. Policies included: Employee Performance and Conduct Guidelines; Staff Association and Conduct with Offenders; Staff Misconduct Investigations; and Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA).
Report on Rape in Jails in the U.S. Based on Public Hearings and Review of Documentary Evidence by The Review Panel on Prison Rape: Findings and Best Practices.
Findings are presented from hearings intended “to aid BJS [Bureau of Justice Statistics] in the identification of common characteristics of victims and perpetrators of rape [in jails],” and to also aid in identification of facility characteristics where rape incidence is high or low (p. 4). Four sections comprise this report: role of the Review Panel on Prison Rape; panel members and staff; panel’s 2008 jail hearings—selection of jails invited to testify, identified common characteristics of victims and perpetrators of sexual violence, and common characteristics of jail systems with high or low prevalence of sexual assault; and best practices to lessen the risk of rape in U.S. prisons—training of staff and inmates, classification, surveillance, reporting, investigation, prosecution, and relevant policies and practices.
Report on Rape in Federal and State Prisons in the U.S. Based on Public Hearings and Review of Documentary Evidence by the Review Panel on Prison Rape: Findings and Best Practices.
Information about prison rape in federal and state institutions is provided. Topics discussed include: role of the Review Panel on Prison Rape; panel’s 2008 prison hearings; selection of prisons invited to testify; identified common characteristics of victims of inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate prison rape and of inmate and staff perpetrators of prison rape; common characteristics of prisons and prison systems with low or high prevalence of prison rape; and best practices to lessen the risk of rape in U.S. prisons.
General Administrative Policy Manual
The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) has zero tolerance for any form of sexual abuse of youth under TYC jurisdiction. This rule establishes prohibited conduct and behaviors that are broader than those established by the statute as violations of law. This rule sets forth standards for reporting and investigating alleged sexual abuse of TYC youth. This rule also addresses screening and housing placement procedures for youth who may be potential victims or perpetrators of sexual abuse.
Promising Practices to Prevent Inmate Sexual Assaults
Strategies for preventing inmate sexual assaults in the San Francisco County Jail are related. This publication contains these sections: the San Francisco County Jail—a model for protecting inmates; consistency in leadership and vision; employee hiring and training; staff diversity; objective jail classification system; investigation process; San Francisco Sheriff’s Department Sexual Assault Policy; collaboration with the legal system; direct supervision; inmate programming; recommendations; Logic Model: San Francisco Sheriff’s Jail; and summary.
Need Help?
The PREA Resource Center provides training and technical assistance to adult and juvenile corrections and law enforcement agencies seeking to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse in confinement.
Resources for survivors and their families are available here.
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