NCJ Number
234280
Date Published
September 2008
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This publication outlines findings by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in the identification of common characteristics of victims and perpetrators of prison rape.
Abstract
BJS identified a group of 10 facilities among those surveyed with the highest reported rates of sexual victimization, along with 6 facilities in which no incidents of sexual victimization were reported by inmates. Findings show the characteristics of inmates more vulnerable to sexual assault are: inmates of small stature; smaller inmates who shared cells with inmates of larger stature; younger inmates; non-violent offenders with no history of acting out in a violent manner; first-time inmates; mentally ill or physically limited inmates; gay inmates; inmates with no gang affiliation; inmates who had previously been assaulted; and inmates who had low self-confidence or projected a feeling of fear. Five characteristics that were common to prisons with low prevalence rates of prison rape are: prisons that track inmate complaints alleging inmate-on-inmate sexual assault; prisons that track inmate complaints alleging staff-on-inmate sexual assault; prisons with a low turnover rate among new corrections officers; prisons that are fully staffed or almost fully staffed; and prisons where pornography (soft- and/or hard-core) among inmates is prohibited. Also identified are five characteristics that were shared by at least two of those prisons and prison systems with a high prevalence of prison rape: prisons that are significantly understaffed; prisons that have a high turnover rate among new corrections officers; prisons that house maximum security inmates; prisons where soft pornography is permitted among the inmates; and prisons that do not track inmate grievances alleging inmate-on-inmate sexual assault. Best practices to lessen the risk of rape in prisons are discussed in detail. This report also includes the tabulated results of the survey by facility and State. Appendix