NCJ Number
247367
Date Published
2013
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes key issues and suggestions from a forum that discussed how correctional facilities and rape crisis centers can cooperate in implementing the sexual-assault victim services specified in the standards for implementing the Prisoner Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
Abstract
Rape crisis center is a term that denotes the many community-based sexual assault victim advocacy agencies across the county; however, sexual assault victims in corrections may not identify their assault experience as being one that rape crisis centers address. Training is required in order for the staffs of both rape crisis centers and corrections facilities to understand the relevance of such a partnership for victims of sexual assaults that occur in prisons and jails. The forum discussions provide guidance on conducting such training. Partnering efforts should then begin with the common goal of safety and appropriate services for in-prison sexual assault victims. It would be useful for correctional systems to assist their facilities in identifying and reaching out to rape crisis centers for the purpose of developing agreements that specify the services that rape crisis centers can provide for sexual assault victims in correctional facilities. Two discretionary grant projects from the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime are piloting efforts to implement PREA victim services provisions and more generally facilitate a victim-centered, coordinated approach to sexual assault in corrections. Appended listing of forum participants and forum agenda