Does PREA require the governor to submit a certification of compliance, and if so, when is the first certification of compliance due to the Department of Justice?
Pursuant to the PREA statute, the governor has three options: 1) submit a certification that the state is in full compliance; 2) submit an assurance that not less than five percent of its DOJ funding for prison purposes shall be used only for the purpose of enabling the state to adopt and achieve full compliance with the PREA standards; or 3) accept a five percent reduction in such grants. The first certification is due to the Office of Justice Programs by May 15, 2014. For more information on the certification process, click here to access the letter sent from the Department of Justice to all state governors.