Sexual Violence In Correctional Facilities

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

In 1971, the Federal Bureau of Prisons relocated some low risk woman inmates in an overcrowded Virginia prison to a minimum-security prison in West Virginia that housed young males (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). This was the birth of coed prisons, which house both female and male inmates in one facility (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). Cocorrections are how both females and males interact in prison under the guidance of one administration (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). There are approximately 52 coed prisons in America, housing an estimated 23,000 males and 7,000 females (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). Since these coed prisons began, it has been argued that they provide a benefit to some correctional problems listed below.

As a country, we should care about all of our citizens and work toward bettering them, because we are only as strong as our weakest link. When it concerns the issue of corrections it should not be a discussion of punishment or rehabilitation. Instead, it should be a balance of both that puts the spotlight on rehabilitating offenders that are capable and willing to change their lives for the better. Through rehabilitation a number of issues in the corrections field can be solved from mental health to overcrowding. More importantly, it allows offenders the chance to do and be better once released from prison. This paper analyzes what both rehabilitation and punishment are as well as how they play a part in corrections. It also discusses the current reasons that punishment as the dominant model of corrections is not as effective as rehabilitation. After explaining rehabilitation and punishment, then breaking down the issues with punishment, I will recommend a plan for balance. A plan that will lower incarceration rates and give offenders a second chance.

Corrections have existed throughout society for many years and continued to change and evolve in the United States reflecting society’s values and ideals throughout the centuries. In the criminal justice system, corrections exist in more than one form. Not only do corrections refer to jails and prison systems but they also pertain to community-based programs, such as probation, parole, halfway houses, and treatment facilities. Past, present, and future trends in regard to the development and operation of institutional and community-based corrections vary between states but corrections have grown immensely since the early 1800s and have continued to expand

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.

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

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.

PREA online Training (Prison Rape Elimination Act) all 8 modules on the computer. The Prison Rape Elimination Act module must be passed with an 80%. A Prison Rape Elimination Act refresher course shall be conducted every 2 years. Prison Rape Elimination Act protects the youth from sexual abuse and sexual harassment. There must be a Prison Rape Elimination Act compliance Manager who is responsible for maintain Prison Rape Elimination Act records that must be keep in a lock cabinet behind a lock door and no other records can be kept with the Prison Rape Elimination Act records. The compliance manager is also responsible for making sure that all Prison Rape Elimination Act standards are being followed and documented. Prison Rape Elimination

3. Some of the special problems female inmates face include health care, vocational trainning and work oppurtunities, potential sexual abuse by staff, substance abuse, and prblems relating to their children.(Seiter, pg219)

This research paper will focusing on incarcerated female inmates in the US prison system. Mainly the systemacy, environment and also the ills which is hindering its advancement of this sector of the criminal justice system. Also, diving into the diversity, political affiliations etc.

As should be obvious, as the years have passed more instances of prison assault have been accounted for. Before prison, assault was thought to be something that just happened to females, yet with more gay person and transgender men in the prison framework that number has changed significantly (Jryanua, 2015). When PREA was brought into play after the year 2003 more cases were being accounted for because of new reporting methodology being authorized by distinctive prison frameworks. By having, the capacity to get more detainees to report their instances of sexual misuse makes it simpler for the Department of Corrections to execute better methods for making casualties more agreeable to report any criminal issues (PREA, 2015).

This article discusses disgustingness in U.S. prison house mental institutions and proposes an effective method to discourage its (when something keeps happening for a long time/delay in a court case). Unlike other research that has (fought for/pleaded for) increasing causing and animal-like violence, this article presents a rule -based approach , not weak, cowardly, or soft but in fact serious and honest, unstoppable, and well controlled/punished. It balances the (something that continues from one extreme to the other) between reinforcing clear and sensible and reasonable rules to control the behavior/personality of inmates and mature and professional performance by educated correctional officers. This article is based on a solid assumption:

As far as the future, I sense there’s staff that need reevaluation due to inappropriate previous behavior of enjoyment in inflicting pain and power over these women. I always reevaluate guards at each new facility I serve at. I’ve started doing this after I learned about the Stanford Prison Experiment-a proven study that shows in as little as six days, guards can become sadistic towards prisoners simply because they have power over them according to Dr. Burns’ lecture. I believe it’s likely worse in female prisons since by nature women tend to be physically smaller and weaker than men. Female

“The history of correctional thought and practice has been marked by enthusiasm for new approaches, disillusionment with these approaches, and then substitution of yet other tactics”(Clear 59). During the mid 1900s, many changes came about for the system of corrections in America. Once a new idea goes sour, a new one replaces it. Prisons shifted their focus from the punishment of offenders to the rehabilitation of offenders, then to the reentry into society, and back to incarceration. As times and the needs of the criminal justice system changed, new prison models were organized in hopes of lowering the crime rates in America. The three major models of prisons that were developed were the medical, model, the community model, and the crime

Sexual activity in the prisons is a behavior conducted by the prisoners that is not uncommon even though they are forbidden under prison rules. Sexual activity in prisons varies from consensual to non-consensual. The problem here is that there are homosexuals that are having sexual relationships with each other and are risking the prevalence of transmitting the HIV if one is infected. In addition, prostitution and trading sex from drugs are also reasons that sexual activity is conducted between inmates. One of the most talked about reason for sexual activity between inmates is rape, prison rape in not only physically and psychologically damaging, but a formidable challenge for the correctional department to attempt to secure basic human rights within the correctional institutions. According to Struckman and Johnson, “In the Midwestern states in 2000, prisoner’s likeliness of experiencing some pressure or coerced sexual conduct while incarcerated was one- in –five.”