NCJ Number
166444
Date Published
1996
Length
355 pages
Annotation
Sexual abuse of female inmates in 11 State prisons is examined, based on interviews with Federal, State, and local corrections officials, prosecutors; civil and women's rights attorneys; prisoner aid organizations; and more than 60 current or previous female inmates in California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Abstract
The analysis revealed that male correctional employees have raped female prisoners vaginally, anally, and orally and have sexually assaulted and abused them. Male officers have not only used actual or threatened physical force during these assaults but also have used their nearly total authority to provide or deny goods and privileges to female inmates to compel them to have sex or to reward them for having done so. Those in prison for the first time and young or mentally ill inmates are particularly vulnerable to abuse. In addition, none of the jurisdictions are adequately upholding their international and national legal obligations to prevent and punish custodial sexual misconduct. Internal investigatory procedures are often fraught with conflicts of interest and a bias against inmate testimony. The United States Congress, the Department of Justice, and State governments all need to take action to address this problem. Findings and recommendations for each jurisdiction, footnotes, and appended United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners