Sexual Correction

The Pennsylvania Prison System has a policy that shows no mercy towards sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates. Convicts have the right to be free from sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and reprisal for reporting sexual abuse or harassment.The closest federal prison in my area is State Correctional Institution – Laurel Highlands which is located Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania . The closest state prison in my area that holds female inmates is State Correctional Institution – Muncy which is located Clinton Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The amount of prisoners that’s kept in Pennsylvania prisons has been getting larger at a constant rate since 1972. Between 1972 and 1976, the inmate population increased by 44 percent, resulting in a serious

The issue of sexual assault in correctional facilities is very complex and the implications reach far beyond the walls of the institution. Congress found that “prison rape endangers the public’s safety by making brutalized inmates more likely to commit crimes when they are released.”

For our research proposal, we have chosen to analyze a topic that hits fairly close to home for the three of us. This paper will look at the social condition of sexual assault concerning college aged females on public Texas University property. The paper will mimic the style of a grant, as if we were an organization looking to get funds to implement a program that would help decrease this problem in our community. The problem of sexual assault is a very broad topic; under it falls everything from forced sexual intercourse, to child molestation, to fondling. In order to make our research more accurate, we have chosen to reduce the definition of sexual assault down to just forced intercourse, or in other terms, rape. We have found a

A common assumption amongst those in the field of criminal justice is that most adult criminals were victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect in their childhood. A study by Steele in 1975 found that, of 200 detained juvenile offenders, between 72% and 84% had backgrounds of child abuse (Weeks & Widom, 1998). A 1979 study by Lewis, Schanok, Pincus, and Glaser found that of a sample of male juvenile offenders, 75% had experienced childhood physical abuse. In follow-up interviews with the same subjects previously surveyed, 80% reported childhood physical abuse (Weeks & Widom, 1998). A study done by the Department of Correctional Services Research and Reporting Unit in 1983 had inmates answer a questionnaire; 25.2% of the inmates who answered the questionnaire reported childhood victimization (1998).

Approximately 240,000 brutal rapes occur in our prison systems each year (Lozoff). Most of the victims are young, nonviolent male inmates, many of them teenaged first offenders. They are traumatized beyond imagination. Most of these inmates are nonviolent criminals who cannot or will not defend themselves. Unfortunately, this results in many of those nonviolent offenders turning violent by the time they leave prison.

Simply because inmates are smaller, weaker, or more intimidated by the cell and cellmates they are assigned, they are ultimately categorized as “victims” of these ghastly assaults and thus, their “femininity” determines their fate. Despite the high number of these crimes committed each year, the flawed system in which these facilities are run have yet to truly recognize the danger and harm that is placed upon these male prisoners. Joanne Mariner’s article is therefore an effective attempt to spark reform within the system; just because these inmates have been convicted of crimes does not mean they should not get the proper treatment and justice they too deserve.

Chair holder and Executive Director of Just Detention International, David Kaisner and Lovisa Stannow, in their article, “The Rape of American Prisoners”, divulge into the harrowing statistic of inmates across America. Kaisner and Stannow’s purpose is to shed light on the frequency of inmate-on-inmate rape, staff sexual misconduct, and what ensues afterwards. They adopt an empathetic yet informative tone in order to convey to their readers that these treacherous deeds in fact occur on a daily basis, and many times, the violators do not receive the proper punishments.

In the first female prison in Indiana state women suffered from sexual abuse from the guards working there, in fact that happened in several different prisons. In a text I read it was said “The Indiana state prison actually ran a prostitution service for male guards, using female prisoners.” (Kurshan) demonstrating how sickening a women’s prison was. This is because women were seen as weak or fragile with guards holding all power. Women obeyed the guards in fear of receiving more punishments. Guards are seen as the most powerful in these facilities and most women fear them. Guards can sometimes overstep their boundaries by watching women shower, changing clothes, so women don’t

On September 13, 2016, Plaintiff reported both relationships to the superintendent of the Correctional Facility and supervisor of the Defendants. (Compl. 3:5-7.) Plaintiff has filed a civil action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that the sexual conduct between Plaintiff and Defendants was not consensual in nature, because an inmate cannot, as a matter of law, consent to sexual

It is dreadful enough to get raped, but having to see your perpetrator every day and possibly raping you again is a constant fear that many inmates have to encounter. According to the Bureau of Justice (BJS), in 2008 correctional administrators reported 7,444 allegations of sexual abuse in prisons. About 46 % of the sexual abuse involved staff with inmates. But these statistics do not include the many cases that go unreported due to victim’s fear of being punished by their perpetrators and/ or to embarrassment and humiliation that comes with rape. Although prison rape is prevalent, many individuals find it normal and even find it a laughing matter. Prison rape is abnormal and has huge consequences if not dealt with. Some of the

“I never realized that once I was labeled as a criminal, I had forfeited my right to be considered a victim,” says Elizabeth Reid at the end of an article she wrote describing her horrific experience as a resident at one of Washington Department of Corrections Work Release facilities (Reid 2013). Elizabeth was led to a secluded room of the facility where she was raped by one of the staff/ guards. She was forced to face the wall as he forcibly raped her. At first she did not report the rape because she feared that he would cause her to be sent back to prison. However, instead of telling someone inside the facility, she went to the local police to report the rape. To her amazement, the cops did not follow through because they were informed that she was on a form of supervised release. As a result, Elizabeth’s rapist was never charged or apprehended for her rape. Sexual misconduct between female inmates and male correctional officers (CO) has been a problem that

Contrary to popular belief sexually transmitted diseases are not the only physical harm victims of prison rape endure. Many rape victims endure broken bones, broken noses, bruises, cuts, concussions, and the obvious genital injuries. Sexual assaults also increases violent behavior in prisons because inmates who feel like they may be a future target of sexually assault, defend themselves, and lash out in these violent rages and fights to establish themselves with a “tough guy” reputation to prevent any sexual misconduct from other inmates.

It was very common that women are being raped by jail guards in the United States. (Armstrong, 2013). Some you may hear about, most you will never hear about, because of the lack of media coverage (Armstrong, 2013). This paper will reflect on how jail guards have the access to sexually assault female inmates every day. This paper will also reflect on where the sexual assault may occur, when the sexual assault may occur, and the vulnerability of the environment in the jails where sexual assaults can be committed to the female inmates. These assaults happen in the jail system every day, and this paper will further more help one to understand the crime itself, and how to deter this from happening as often or even at all in the female jails. The power that the guards have on female inmates when imprisoned in jails are at an all-time high. (Summer, 2007). These female inmates have to rely on these guards for several things, such as food, clothing, and different privileges, if any is available depending on their stay and what jail they stay in (Summer, 2007). Not only do female inmates have to rely on the correctional guards in the jails for different necessities and privileges, but the guards have unlimited access to these female inmates (Summer, 2007). These correctional guards have access to where the female inmates sleep, and take showers/use the restrooms, and with such access to these female inmates, and the power that these correctional guards have over these

Forcible rape has been an ongoing problem in the United States for many years. Researchers and scientist have experimented for years with different programs targeting specific groups in order to deter further rape, sexual assault, and abuse from occurring. There are many programs that have been put into action over the years; two of the most well-known and successful programs were Project 290/Sexual Habitual Offender Program (SHOP) and the Safer Travel at Night Campaign program. Two well-known programs that have shown mixed results is the Multisystemic Therapy for Youth With Problem Sexual Behaviors (MST–PSB) program and Minnesota Prison-Based Sex Offender Treatment Program. Both programs provide an idea on what works and what doesn’t work in order to deter assault.

I choose this topic because sexual assault is one of the most offensive crimes committed in our society. Not only is it a threat to the community, but it has a physically and psychologically effect on the victim in many ways. For the last couple of decades, sexual assault, rape, and child molestation has become the focal point of public concerns today. According to a 1993 National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, about 500,000 rapes or sexual assaults occur each year (Statistics, March 2010). The Department of Justice states that, “rape crimes have risen nearly three times as fast as the total crime rate”, although other studies have shown statistics that are in