NCJ Number
125721
Date Published
1990
Length
39 pages
Annotation
Despite efforts over the past 20 years to identify the phenomenon of male sexual assault in correctional facilities and to suggest changes in clinical interventions and prison management strategies, there continues to be misunderstanding, underreporting, and continued victimization and mismanagement.
Abstract
Although there have been several systematic studies of the epidemiology of sexual victimization of male inmates, the actual extent of male sexual assault in facilities is not known and any estimates are probably very conservative. Correctional facilities are prone to high incidences of sexual assault because they comprise communities isolated from society at large and therefore establish their own patterns of behavior, hierarchies, and language. The slang actually defines sexual habits and inmate status simultaneously, using homosexuality as a way of placing individuals within the hierarchy system. The research indicates that juvenile offenders confront by far the greatest risk of sexual assault in prison; the typical victim is light, young, white, non-violent, tall, and slender. After examining treatment alternatives and administration responses to male sexual assault, the report recommends that institutions ascertain the incidence of sexual violence; establish a comprehensive crisis-intervention protocol for inmate victims; provide training and attitudinal development for correctional staff; provide long-term strategies for inmate victims, especially juvenile inmates; mandate reporting of any incident of sexual assault; and provide more efficient prosecutions of such offenses. 3 tables, 1 figure, 95 references.