Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

About PREA

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was passed by Congress on September 4, 2003. It supports the prevention, reduction and elimination of sexual violence in all US penal facilities
There are 9 Purposes established under the Act
- Establish a zero-tolerance standard for the incidence of prison rape in prisons in the US
- Make the prevention of prison rape a top priority in each prison system
- Develop and implement national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction and punishment of prison rape
- Increase the available data and information on the incidence of prison rape, consequently improving the management and administration of correctional facilities
- Standardize the definitions used for collecting data on the incidence of prison rape
- Increase the accountability of prison officials who fail to detect, prevent, reduce and punish prison rape
- Protect the Eighth Amendment rights of Federal, State and local prisoners
- Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal expenditures through grant programs
- Reduce the costs that prison rape imposes on interstate commerce

PREA Hotline

WDOC inmates who are victims of, or witnesses to, inappropriate sexual misconduct, assaults, sexual assaults, sexual harassment, or criminal activity are provided access to a confidential telephone hotline system to report against inmates or staff. Information on how to access the inmate hotline is posted throughout all WDOC facilities.

Persons outside WDOC facilities may also file a report by calling 1-877-966-4276.