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All types of nonconsensual sexual activity with other inmates, abusive sexual contacts with other inmates, and both willing and unwilling sexual activity with staff.

  • Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

    The Prison Rape Elimination Act: Preventing and Responding to Sexual Abuse in Correctional Settings

     

    The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, plays a key role in helping federal, state, tribal, and local correctional agencies prevent and respond to sexual abuse in correctional settings. This work is guided by a federal law, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), passed by Congress in 2003. One important part of this law, found in 42 U.S. Code § 15605, requires NIC to:

    • Share information and offer support to correctional agencies on how to prevent, investigate, and respond to sexual abuse in prisons, jails, and other confinement settings.
    • Provide training and education to help correctional staff learn how to prevent and properly respond to sexual abuse.
    • Report to Congress every year on what the Department of Justice is doing to stop sexual abuse in correctional facilities.

     

    What NIC Is Doing Now

    To stay current with federal policies and presidential executive orders, NIC is updating its PREA training and resources. A dedicated team is reviewing and improving several key online courses (e-courses) that are available through the Learn Center.

     

    Here are the courses being updated:

     

    🔹 Your Role in Responding to Sexual Abuse

    NIC ID: 22ECCS3002
    Estimated Time: 2 hours
    This course helps staff understand how to respond if they witness or learn about sexual abuse in a correctional facility. It covers who may be most vulnerable, what PREA requires, and how to report and respond properly.

     

    🔹 Medical Health Care for Sexual Assault Victims in Confinement

    NIC ID: 19ECCS2339
    Estimated Time: 3 hours
    This training is for medical professionals who provide care to people who have experienced sexual abuse in custody. It focuses on PREA standards for health care in these

  • Juvenile Facility Standards: U.S. Department of Justice Final Rule: National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape Under PREA

    PREA standards for juvenile facilities are divided into the following sections: Prevention Planning, Responsive Planning, Training and Education, Screening for Risk of Sexual Victimization and Abusiveness, Reporting, Official Response Following a Resident Report, Investigations, Discipline, Medical and Mental Care, Data Collection and Review, Audits, Auditing and Corrective Action, and State Compliance.