Emotional support, advocacy, and crisis management.

Coping skills, de-escalation techniques, safety planning.

Confidentiality and privacy.

Respect, sensitivity, and dignity.

Upon request:

• information about the reporting process;

• explanation of your PREA rights; and

• accompaniment during a legal interview.

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 more information on filing a report.

Ability to have you transferred to another facility.

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

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 postion of power over the other participant.

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 to all reports.

Many victims chose 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, but these tips have been found helpful to increase 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.