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April 2012 PREA Update

The US Office of Justice Programs Review Panel on Prison Rape recently released “Report on Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails” (April 2012) available at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/reviewpanel/pdfs/prea_finalreport_2012.pdf

A previous report concerning juveniles, “Report on Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Correctional Facilities” (2010) is available at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/reviewpanel/pdfs/panel_report_101014.pdf

About the Review Panel on Prison Rape:
In accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, Public Law 108-79, 117 Stat. 972 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 15601-15609 (2006)), the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, appointed the members of the Review Panel on Prison Rape (Panel) on January 1, 2010. Members of the Panel are:

• Anne Seymour, national crime victim advocate for 27 years, specializing in corrections-based victim services.
• Dr. Gary Christensen, President, Corrections Partners, Inc., retired Jail Administrator.
• Dr. Reginald Wilkinson, President & CEO of the Ohio College Access Network.

The Panel is responsible for conducting annual hearings to collect evidence to assist the Bureau of Justice Statistics in identifying common characteristics, not only of victims and perpetrators of prison rape, but also of prisons and prison systems with a high incidence of prison rape and those that have been successful in deterring prison rape.

Concerning the status of the PREA Standards:

On June 23, 2009, the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission released its final Report and proposed Standards to prevent, detect, respond to and monitor sexual abuse of incarcerated or detained individuals throughout the United States.

The PREA standards are in draft form.