Incarcerated Survivors

How We Help

The Rape Recovery Center offers confidential and free victim advocacy services to incarcerated survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the state of Utah.

We support survivors through traumatic experiences. Services are provided through email, direct phone calls, confidential letter correspondence, scheduled services through the facility’s Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) coordinator, and advocacy responses to medical forensic examinations. We focus on crisis intervention, emotional support, and short-term advocacy.  

In adherence to the PREA Standard §115.53 and in collaboration with the Salt Lake County Jail and Utah Department of Corrections, these services are free, confidential, and private. 

Please be advised that Rape Recovery Center is obligated to break confidentiality in the event of a threat to self or others. The advocate will immediately notify the appropriate personnel of the situation and the safety concern. Rape Recovery Center reserves the right to terminate services if boundaries and expectations are continually and repeatedly crossed.

Request Rape recoverY center Services

EMAIL: prea@raperecoverycenter.org

DIRECT CALL: Mon - Fri, 9 am - 5 pm; (385) 271-1168

BY LETTER: PO Box 26625, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84126

Scheduled calls, in-person visits, and/or follow-ups coordinated through the facility’s PREA coordinator.

What an RRC advocate provides

  • Emotional support, advocacy, and crisis management

  • Coping skills, de-escalation techniques, and safety planning

  • Confidentiality and privacy

  • Respect, sensitivity, and dignity

Upon request

  • information about the reporting process

  • explanation of your PREA rights

  • accompaniment during a legal interview

What an RRC advocate doesn’t provide

  • A therapist or therapy services

  • Legal or financial advice

  • A friend, someone to keep secrets or make decisions for you

  • Someone to submit a report on your behalf. See below for information on filing a report.

  • Ability to have you transferred to another facility

  • Communication between family members, friends, lawyers, or speaking to the media

What You Should Know

  • To serve time with dignity.

    To be safe and protected from sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

    To get help if someone is harming or threatening you in any way.

    To ask for help without being punished or retaliated against.

    To access medical and mental health providers.

    To access confidential victim advocate services.

  • Forced or coerced sexual intercourse or sexual contact when the victim does not consent or is unable to consent.

    Using force or coercion can look like the use of fear or threats of physical violence, psychological intimidation, and bullying.

    Misuse of official position or power to take unjust advantage of inmates.

  • Repeated and unwelcome comments or gestures of a sexual nature, including demeaning references to gender, sexually suggestive or derogatory comments about body or clothing, or obscene language or gestures.

    Repeated and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal comments, gestures, or actions of a derogatory or offensive sexual nature.

  • An invasion of privacy by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer for reasons unrelated to their official duties.

    Staff voyeurism may include watching an inmate use the toilet, shower, or change clothes, requiring an inmate to show their buttocks, genitals, or breasts, or taking pictures of an inmate’s naked body or toilet use.

  • Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity.

    Consent is not present if:

    • sexual contact is forced or against the person’s will;

    • there is fear or threat of physical violence or bodily injury;

    • the victim is by law too young to consent;

    • the victim is mentally or physically incapable of consenting; or

    • one of the participants engaging in sexual activity is in a position of power over the other participant.

If you have been sexually assaulted

If the assault occurred within the past six days, you may choose to seek immediate medical attention. It is essential to be examined and treated for sexually transmitted diseases and injuries. To best preserve evidence, do not shower, change your clothes, brush your teeth, eat, drink, or generally clean yourself prior to the examination.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault and/or sexual harassment, you can report your experiences no matter how long ago the assault happened. 

You may request mental health services or speak with a confidential victim advocate at any time after the assault. It can be helpful to talk through a traumatic experience with someone.

  • Tell a prison or jail staff member, volunteer, contractor, medical or mental health staff.

    Contact a family member, friend, legal counsel, or anyone outside the facility, as they can report on your behalf.

    Make a report on someone’s behalf.

    Submit a grievance or sick call slip.

    Report to the correctional facility PREA Coordinator.

  • The alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator are separated.

    Investigators will respond and conduct complete investigations of all reports.

  • Many victims choose not to report their assault, and a victim cannot be obligated to report.

    Any staff member, volunteer, or contractor at a correctional facility who fails to report or knowingly condones sexual assault and sexual harassment of an inmate shall be subject to disciplinary action and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

  • A victim is never responsible for being attacked. However, these tips have been found helpful in increasing awareness and safety while in a correctional facility:

    When possible...

    avoid isolated areas such as stairwells and unoccupied restrooms, and stay within the eyesight of correctional staff.

    Be aware of...

    your body language, avoid walking with your head down and your eyes lowered; and inmates who say they will protect you.

    Always try to...

    stay out of debt by not accepting food or gifts from other inmates; and be careful who you tell about your family, friends, and money.

Additional Resources

If you are a survivor or a friend or family member, please contact the Rape Recovery Center as we are here to advocate for you and provide support.

Here are additional resources that you can utilize as well.

PREA HOTLINE: *411

FOR SURVIVORS
Community Resources in Utah: UCASA for Community

Utah 211 for additional local health and social services: Visit Website or Call 211

FOR ADVOCATES
Training & Title IX Resources: UCASA for Advocates