STANDARDS FOR THE PREVENTION, 

DETECTION, RESPONSE, AND

 MONITORING OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN 

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS 
STANDARDS FOR THE PREVENTION, 

DETECTION, RESPONSE, AND 

 MONITORING OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN 

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Preface iii

PREFACE

Ours has been a daunting task, albeit a deeply motivating and compelling one—to provide the 

President, members of Congress, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services with national standards by which to detect, prevent, reduce, and punish prison rape.

As we submit these standards to the Attorney General for review and approval, I and my colleagues on the Commission believe that they are as urgently needed now as they were in 2003 

when Congress mandated this groundbreaking project as part of the Prison Rape Elimination 

Act. Sexual abuse of incarcerated individuals remains a persistent problem, with life-altering 

consequences for victims, for the integrity of correctional institutions, and for fundamental 

principles of justice. We discuss the problem in great detail in our report; this standards document and its companion volumes are our blueprint for lasting nationwide change.

The standards development process benefited from, and indeed could not have happened 

without, the contributions of dozens of private and governmental organizations and more 

than 400 individuals—corrections professionals, academics, researchers, practitioners, and 

survivors of sexual abuse in confinement—who provided testimony at hearings, advice at expert committee and stakeholder meetings, and input during an extensive public comment 

period. In finalizing these standards and incorporating their expertise, our discussions have 

been long and lively and our debates rigorous. We are particularly grateful for the insights and 

lessons learned from early reformers—corrections professionals who have been working to 

prevent sexual abuse in their facilities since long before the passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act and who continue to do so.

Each set of standards has been customized to ensure validity for particular conditions of confinement. The members of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission are confident 

that the implementation of these national standards can have a substantial and salutary effect 

on the safety of prisons, jails, lockups, immigration detention centers, juvenile detention facilities, and community correctional facilities. 

We are proud to entrust the enactment and implementation of these standards to the many 

capable policymakers and professionals who will now take up the torch. It has been an honor 

for us to play a part in the elimination of sexual abuse in confinement. A just and civil society 

should strive for nothing less. 

The Honorable Reggie B. Walton, Chair

Table of Contents v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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1

GLOSSARY 5

I. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PLANNING. 11

PREVENTION PLANNING (PP) 11

PP-1: Zero tolerance of sexual abuse.. 11

PP-2: Contracting to house or supervise defendants/offenders under

 community corrections authority 12

PP-3: Defendant/offender supervision.. 13

PP-4: Limits to cross-gender viewing and searches. 14

PP-5: Accommodating defendants/offenders with special needs. 15

PP-6: Hiring and promotion decisions.. 16

RESPONSE PLANNING (RP) 17

RP-1: Evidence protocol and forensic medical exams. 17

RP-2: Agreements with outside public entities and community service providers 19

RP-3: Agreements with outside law enforcement agencies 20

RP-4: Agreements with the prosecuting authority 22

II. PREVENTION... .23

TRAINING AND EDUCATION (TR). 23

TR-1: Employee training 23

TR-2: Volunteer and contractor training.. 24

TR-3: Defendant/offender education 25

TR-4: Specialized training: Investigations. 27

TR-5: Specialized training: Medical and mental health care . 28

SCREENING FOR RISK OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION AND ABUSIVENESS (SC) 30

SC-1: Screening for risk of victimization and abusiveness. 30

SC-2: Use of screening information . 33

III. DETECTION AND RESPONSE 35

REPORTING (RE). 35

RE-1: Defendant/offender reporting .. 35

RE-2: Exhaustion of administrative remedies.. 36

RE-3: Defendant/offender access to outside confidential support services. 38

RE-4: Third-party reporting 40
vi Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

OFFICIAL RESPONSE FOLLOWING A DEFENDANT/OFFENDER REPORT (OR). 40

OR-1: Staff and agency or facility head reporting duties 40

OR-2: Reporting to other agencies or facilities 42

OR-3: Staff first responder duties 42

OR-4: Coordinated response. 43

OR-5: Agency or facility protection against retaliation.. 44

INVESTIGATIONS (IN) 46

IN-1: Duty to investigate. 46

IN-2: Criminal and administrative agency or facility investigations. 47

IN-3: Evidence standard for administrative investigations 50

DISCIPLINE (DI)... 50

DI-1: Disciplinary sanctions for staff.... 50

DI-2: Disciplinary sanctions for defendants/offenders.. 52

MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE (MM). 53

MM-1: Access to emergency medical and mental health services. 53

MM-2: Ongoing medical and mental health care for sexual abuse victims and abusers 54

IV. MONITORING. 57

DATA COLLECTION AND REVIEW (DC). 57

DC-1: Sexual abuse incident reviews. 57

DC-2: Data collection 58

DC-3: Data review for corrective action.. 59

DC-4: Data storage, publication, and destruction . 60

AUDITS (AU).. 61

AU-1: Audits of standards. 61

APPENDIX A: RESPONSIBILITIES OF FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINERS.. 63

APPENDIX B: TRAINING TOPICS AND PROCEDURES. 65

APPENDIX C: INCIDENT-BASED DATA COLLECTION. 69

APPENDIX D: NPREC STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT EXPERT COMMITTEE MEMBERS 71

APPENDIX E: STANDARDS IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 77
Introduction 1

INTRODUCTION

Sexual abuse of defendants/offenders, whether adult or juvenile, in community corrections violates the law. It also violates their basic human rights, impedes the likelihood of their successful 

reentry into the community, and violates the Government’s legal obligation to provide safe and 

humane community corrections supervision. No sentence or condition of supervision, regardless 

of the crime, should ever include rape. A core priority of any community corrections agency or 

facility must be safety, which means protecting the safety of all—the public, the staff, and the 

defendant/offender population. In recognition of this, Congress formed the National Prison Rape 

Elimination Commission (NPREC or Commission) to develop national standards that will help 

eliminate rape and other forms of sexual abuse in community corrections.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 requires agencies to comply with the national 

standards proposed by the Commission and approved and promulgated by the Attorney General 

to eliminate sexual abuse in community corrections. Fundamental to an agency’s success will be 

its commitment to zero tolerance of sexual abuse—a recognition that sexual abuse in community 

corrections is unacceptable under any circumstances. Agencies must demonstrate zero tolerance 

not merely by words and written policy, but through their actions, including what they do to prevent sexual abuse and their response when it occurs.

The standards developed by NPREC are organized as follows:

Standard Statement

Mandatory

Assessment Checklist

Not mandatory:

 tool for tracking 

compliance

Discussion

Not mandatory: 

provides commentary 

and guidance

Each standard statement contains mandatory requirements. A check box precedes each standard, 

indicating whether the standard requirements apply to community corrections facilities; pretrial, 

probation, and parole agencies; or both. Under each standard statement is an assessment checklist. The assessment checklists are designed as a tool for agencies and facilities to self-assess and 

track their progress toward meeting the standards. They are also meant to be a starting point 

for the external audit of an agency’s or facility’s compliance with the standards. The agency head, 

facility head, PREA coordinator, or a designee must complete the assessment checklists for every 

standard. Although answering “yes” to each checklist item is not mandatory, meeting the requirements in the standard is mandatory. Therefore, when completing a given checklist, if an official answers “no” to a checklist question but believes the agency or facility is meeting the requirements of 

the standard using a different process or procedure, he or she should explain how the alternative 

process or procedure meets the standard. The PREA coordinator or other official should attach 

documentation of compliance with the standard to the checklist unless compliance is self-evident. 

This documentation will be used in complying with the audit requirement in the standards.

After each assessment checklist is a discussion of the standard. Discussion sections provide explanation for the rationale of the standard and, in some cases, offer guidance for achieving compliance 

with it. Although the discussion sections sometimes offer further clarification on the meaning of 
2 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

terms or phrases used in the standard, the glossary should be used as the primary source for the 

meaning of terms or phrases. The discussion sections do not contain any additional mandatory 

requirements. When mandatory requirements are mentioned in a discussion section, they have 

been drawn directly from the standard statement. 

Some of the community corrections standards have not been deemed mandatory for pretrial, 

probation, or parole agencies. Even though these standards may not be mandatory for these agencies, the Commission encourages pretrial, probation, and parole agencies to review these standards and consider adopting some or all of the provisions as best practices. 

In crafting these standards, NPREC has kept in mind the following overarching considerations: 

(1) agency and facility heads should retain the flexibility, responsibility, and authority to establish 

systems, practices, and protocols that will eliminate sexual abuse in community corrections; (2) 

successful compliance with the standards and elimination of sexual abuse require ongoing systemic efforts to assess and adjust policies, practices, and the allocation of resources to address 

problems and improve safety; and (3) greater transparency of the agency’s sexual abuse data and 

efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse will improve public trust and confidence 

in our Nation’s community corrections systems and aid in the elimination of sexual abuse while 

under supervision.

These standards are the product of lengthy study, consultation, and reflection. The Commission 

held eight public hearings, during which more than 100 witnesses testified, including corrections 

leaders, survivors of sexual abuse in confinement, researchers, investigators, prosecutors, and advocates for victims and the incarcerated. One of these public hearings was devoted to issues related to community corrections. In addition, the Commission convened an expert committee 

comprised of diverse stakeholders with broad community corrections expertise to help inform 

the content of the standards during the drafting process. Site visits to a cross-section of community corrections facilities enabled the Commission to receive feedback on the draft standards 

from a variety of community corrections staff. Finally, during its 60-day public comment period, 

the Commission received and considered comments on the standards, many extensive in nature, 

from more than 225 individuals or entities representing a wide range of perspectives. At the final 

stages of the process, these comments were discussed with a group of community corrections 

experts from agencies across the country to further modify the draft standards. 

While recognizing that community corrections facilities are in many ways significantly different 

than prisons, jails, and other confinement facilities, the Commission has tailored this set of standards to the differing uses and context of community corrections. These facilities vary from those 

that may resemble minimum security corrections facilities to include residential housing settings 

within the community. The standards cover situations in which individuals in pre- or post-sentence 

circumstances are supervised in residential facilities in the community pursuant to a court order or 

condition of supervision. The community corrections standards address not only facilities housing adults, but also those that house juveniles. Despite differences with prisons and jails, it is still 

necessary to provide protection from sexual abuse for those individuals who reside in community 

corrections facilities and are under community corrections supervision. In addition to community 

corrections facilities, the standards also address the responsibilities of pretrial, probation, and parole officials who supervise offenders in the community. Defendants/offenders in the community 
Introduction 3

must also be protected from sexual abuse from pretrial, probation, and parole employees as well 

as other defendants/offenders. Officials must also understand through training how to respond 

to reports of abuse made by defendants/offenders while under supervision in the community or 

during incarceration. The standards provide guidance for receiving and acting on these reports.

The Commission believes that full adoption of these standards is necessary to achieve the elimination of sexual abuse in community corrections as Congress intended in passing PREA.

Glossary 5

GLOSSARY

The following terms are used throughout the standards, and agencies should note and understand the definitions of these terms as provided below to ensure proper compliance with the 

standards. The Commission wishes to draw special attention to the fact that the definitions 

of sexually abusive conduct that appear here differ from the definitions used by the Bureau of 

Justice Statistics (BJS). The Commission recognizes that the BJS definitions have been used by 

agencies for data collection purposes but has formulated somewhat different definitions to 

capture the full range of conduct the standards seek to address. Additionally, the Commission 

has deliberately excluded definitions for defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender indecent 

exposure and voyeurism. Legal definitions for indecent exposure and voyeurism rely on the 

concept of a sphere of privacy, and although defendants/offenders have a legally cognizable 

privacy interest, that interest is extremely limited by security interests. Because the extent of 

defendants/offenders’ privacy rights necessarily varies according to legitimate security needs, 

so too would the circumstances in which it would be appropriate to penalize defendants/

offenders for indecent exposure and voyeurism, complicating the task of setting forth a clear 

policy and consistent practice of enforcement. The reality is that defendants/offenders could 

be in states of undress around other defendants/offenders and staff, raising the possibility that 

inmates might be penalized for conduct that is part of the ordinary course of life under community corrections supervision.

Agency: The unit of a governing, corporate, or nonprofit authority with direct responsibility 

for the operation of any community corrections program that supervises defendants/offenders, whether adults or juveniles, including the implementation of policy as set by the governing, corporate, or nonprofit authority.

Agency head: The chief authority of a Federal, State, or local community corrections system.

Allegation: An oral, written, or electronic statement that sexual abuse has occurred or might 

occur that is provided to a staff member, volunteer, or outside agency.

Audit: A thorough investigatory review of information, including written records and interviews with staff and defendants/offenders, to determine whether and the extent to which an 

agency’s or facility’s policies, practices, and protocols comply with the PREA standards. 

Auditor: An individual or entity that the jurisdiction employs or retains by contract to perform audits. An auditor may also be authorized by law, regulation, or the judiciary to perform 

audits; however, an auditor cannot be an agency employee. An auditor is able and prequalified 

by the U.S. Department of Justice to perform audits competently and without bias. Prequalification does not require prior employment with any particular agency.

Community corrections: Supervision of individuals, whether adults or juveniles, in a community setting as a condition of incarceration, pretrial release, probation, parole, or post-release 

supervision. These settings would include day and evening reporting centers.
6 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Contractor: A person who provides services other than direct services to defendants/offenders on a recurring basis according to a contractual agreement with the agency (e.g., maintenance contractors).

Credibility assessment: An investigator’s process of conducting interviews and weighing 

evidence to determine the truthfulness of victim, witness, and suspect statements. 

Critical incident: An occurrence or event, natural or human-caused, which requires an immediate response to protect life, facility safety, or property.

Cultural competence: The ability to work and communicate effectively with people of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and social groups based on an awareness and understanding of 

differences in thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, and values.

Defendant: A person, whether adult or juvenile, under the jurisdiction of an agency in preadjudication status.

Employee: A person who works directly for the agency or facility, or a person who provides 

direct services to defendants/offenders on a recurring basis according to a contractual agreement with the agency (e.g., contracted food service providers).

Facility: A place, institution, building (or part thereof), set of buildings, or area (whether or not 

enclosing a building or set of buildings) where defendants/offenders reside pursuant to a court 

order or condition of supervision for purposes of confinement, care, and/or treatment. A facility may be owned by a public, private, or nonprofit agency.

Facility head: The chief authority of an individual confinement facility operated by a Federal, 

State, or local correctional or law enforcement agency or by a private entity (whether for-profit 

or nonprofit).

Gender identity: A person’s internal, deeply felt sense of being male or female, regardless of 

the person’s sex at birth.

Gender nonconforming: A person whose gender identity and/or expression do not conform 

to gender stereotypes generally associated with his or her birth sex.

Intersex: A condition usually present at birth that involves reproductive, genetic, or sexual 

anatomy that does not seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.

Jurisdiction: A legal entity of government with geographic boundaries, such as the United 

States, a State, a county, or a municipal entity.

Medical practitioner: A health professional who, by virtue of education, credentials, and experience, is permitted by law to evaluate and care for patients within the scope of his or her 

professional practice. A “qualified medical practitioner” refers to such a professional who has 

also successfully completed specialized training for treating sexual abuse victims.
Glossary 7

Mental health practitioner: A mental health professional who, by virtue of education, credentials, and experience, is permitted by law to evaluate and care for patients within the scope of 

his or her professional practice. A “qualified mental health practitioner” refers to such a professional who has also successfully completed specialized training for treating sexual abuse victims.

Need to know: A criterion for limiting access of certain sensitive information to individuals 

who require the information to make decisions or take action with regard to a defendant/offender’s safety or treatment, or to the investigative process.

Offender: A person, whether adult or juvenile, under the jurisdiction of an agency in postadjudication status.

Parole: The discretionary release authority of an agency to determine when and under what 

conditions a defendant/offender is released from a period of incarceration and to determine 

responses to violations of parole conditions.

Parole or post-release supervision agency: The correctional agency responsible for supervising defendants/offenders released by a parole board, by statutorily defined release supervision 

conditions, or by executive clemency. Its functions may include prerelease investigations, parole plan preparation for prospective parolees, and the supervision of adults having parole or 

other conditional release status.

Parolee: A person who has been placed on parole by a releasing authority.

Pat-down search: A superficial running of the hands over the body of a defendant/offender 

by a staff member to determine whether the defendant/offender possesses contraband. 

PREA coordinator: A senior-level position that reports directly to the agency head. The PREA 

coordinator’s responsibilities include developing, implementing, and overseeing the agency’s 

plan to comply with the PREA standards. He or she is also responsible for ensuring the completion of the assessment checklists in this body of standards. The PREA coordinator is a full-time 

position in all agencies that operate their own community corrections facilities housing more 

than 500 defendants/offenders in one location. The PREA coordinator may be a part-time position in agencies that operate their own community corrections facilities with less than 500 

defendants/offenders in one location or those agencies that solely contract with community 

corrections providers for the placement of defendants/offenders. The PREA coordinator may 

also be a part-time position in probation, pretrial, and parole agencies.

Preponderance of the evidence standard: The standard of proof used in most civil cases 

that requires the party bearing the burden of proof to present evidence that is more credible 

and convincing than the evidence presented by the other party. This standard is satisfied if the 

evidence shows that it is more probable than not that an event occurred. Preponderance of 

the evidence is a lesser standard of proof than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which is required 

to convict in a criminal trial.
8 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Pretrial: The status of a person who may be detained or released while awaiting trial for an 

alleged offense. Pretrial release may involve restrictive conditions ordered by the court and 

supervised by a pretrial services or diversion agency.

Pretrial services agency: An agency of the criminal justice system that interviews and verifies 

information on defendants prior to initial court appearance, makes recommendations to the 

court for release decision making in some jurisdictions, and supervises pretrial defendants in 

the community under conditions set by the court.

Probation: A court-ordered disposition that permits a convicted or adjudicated offender to 

serve a sentence or suspended sentence in the community under the control, supervision, and 

care of a probation officer and under specific conditions of supervision. A probation sentence 

may include serving time in jail, payment of fines, and other required penalties and conditions 

of behavior.

Probationer: A person who is placed on probation status and required to meet prescribed 

conditions of behavior.

Protocol: Written instructions that guide the implementation of policies.

Report: Any allegation of sexual abuse. See definition of allegation.

Sexual abuse: Encompasses (1) defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse, (2) 

defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment, (3) staff-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse, and (4) staff-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment.

(1) Defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse: Encompasses all incidents of 

defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive contact and penetration.

Defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive contact: Non-penetrative 

touching (either directly or through the clothing) of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, 

inner thigh, or buttocks without penetration by a defendant/offender of another defendant/offender without the latter’s consent, or of a defendant/offender who is coerced 

into sexual contact by threats of violence, or of a defendant/offender who is unable to 

consent or refuse.

Defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive penetration: Penetration by a defendant/offender of another defendant/offender without the latter’s consent, 

or of a defendant/offender who is coerced into sexually abusive penetration by threats of 

violence, or of a defendant/offender who is unable to consent or refuse. The sexual acts 

included are:

• Contact between the penis and the vagina or the anus; 

• Contact between the mouth and the penis, vagina, or anus; or

• Penetration of the anal or genital opening of another person by a hand, finger, or

other object.
Glossary 9

(2) Defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment: Repeated and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, verbal comments, or gestures or actions of 

a derogatory or offensive sexual nature by one defendant/offender directed toward another. 

(3) Staff-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse: Encompasses all occurrences of staff-ondefendant/offender sexually abusive contact, staff-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive 

penetration, staff-on-defendant/offender indecent exposure, and staff-on-defendant/offender 

voyeurism. Staff solicitations of defendants/offenders to engage in sexual contact or penetration constitute attempted staff-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse.

Staff-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive contact: Non-penetrative touching (either directly or through the clothing) of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or 

buttocks by a staff member of a defendant/offender with or without the latter’s consent 

that is unrelated to official duties.

Staff-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive penetration: Penetration by a staff 

member of a defendant/offender with or without the latter’s consent. The sexual acts 

included are:

• Contact between the penis and the vagina or the anus; 

• Contact between the mouth and the penis, vagina, or anus; or

• Penetration of the anal or genital opening of another person by a hand, finger, or 

other object.

Staff-on-defendant/offender indecent exposure: The display by a staff member of his 

or her uncovered genitalia, buttocks, or breast in the presence of a defendant/offender.

Staff-on-defendant/offender voyeurism: An invasion of a defendant/offender’s privacy 

by staff for reasons unrelated to official duties or when otherwise not necessary for safety 

and security reasons, such as peering at a defendant/offender who is using a toilet in 

an area observable by staff, requiring a defendant/offender to expose his or her buttocks, 

genitals, or breasts, or taking images of all or part of a defendant/offender’s naked body or 

of a defendant/offender performing bodily functions and distributing or publishing them. 

(4) Staff-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment: Repeated verbal comments or gestures 

of a sexual nature to a defendant/offender by a staff member. Such statements include demeaning references to gender, sexually suggestive or derogatory comments about body or 

clothing, or obscene language or gestures.

Staff: Employees and volunteers.

Strip search: A search that requires a person to remove or arrange some or all of his or her 

clothing so as to permit a visual inspection of the underclothing, breasts, buttocks, or genitalia 

of such person. 
10 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Substantiated allegation: An allegation that was investigated and the investigation determined that the alleged event occurred. 

Supervised release: The process of monitoring defendants/offenders who have been placed 

on some type of release status following a sentence of incarceration.

Transgender: A term describing persons whose gender identity and/or expression do not conform to the gender roles assigned to them at birth.

Unfounded allegation: An allegation that was investigated and the investigation determined 

that the alleged event did not occur.

Unsubstantiated allegation: An allegation that was investigated and the investigation produced 

insufficient evidence to make a final determination as to whether or not the event occurred. 

Victim advocate: An individual, who may or may not be affiliated with the agency, who provides victims with a range of services during the forensic exam and investigatory process. These 

services may include emotional support, crisis intervention, information and referrals, and advocacy to ensure those victims’ interests are represented, their wishes respected, and their 

rights upheld. 

Video monitoring system: An integrated security system consisting of installed cameras 

monitored by employees, which augments and/or enhances the ability of employees to provide the sight and sound supervision necessary to prevent, detect, contain, and respond to 

incidents of sexual abuse. 

Visual body cavity search: A visual inspection of a body cavity, defined as a rectal cavity or 

vagina, for the purpose of discovering whether contraband is concealed in it. 

Volunteer: An individual who donates his or her time and effort on a recurring basis to enhance the activities and programs of the agency.
I. Prevention and Response Planning 11

I. PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PLANNING

Prevention Planning (PP)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

PP-1 Zero tolerance of sexual abuse

The agency has a written policy mandating zero tolerance toward all forms of sexual abuse and 

enforces that policy by ensuring all of its facilities and community supervision functions comply with the PREA standards. The agency employs or designates a PREA coordinator to oversee 

agency efforts to comply with the PREA standards. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency have a written policy mandating zero tolerance toward all forms of 

sexual abuse?

(b) Does the agency ensure that all of its facilities comply with the PREA standards?

(c) Does the agency employ or designate a PREA coordinator to oversee agency efforts to 

comply with the PREA standards?

Discussion

Eliminating sexual abuse in community corrections requires first and foremost a commitment 

to safety as a core mandate of community corrections operations. Agency and facility heads 

will be responsible not only for ensuring that staff and defendants/offenders are informed of 

the agency’s and facility’s zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse but for setting a tone 

that signals true commitment to a culture of safety and security for all defendants/offenders and staff. The agency head will also be responsible for employing or designating a PREA 

coordinator to manage and oversee the agency’s efforts to comply with the PREA standards. 

The PREA coordinator’s job should include: (1) developing written policies that follow community corrections best practices and meet the intent of the PREA standards, (2) developing 

and implementing a training plan that fulfills the PREA training standards, (3) monitoring 

defendant/offender screening procedures and investigations according to the PREA standards, 

(4) supervising the agency’s data collection efforts, and (5) providing appropriate access and 

materials to auditors. By definition, the PREA coordinator will be a senior-level position reporting directly to the agency head. In that capacity, the PREA coordinator should provide 

routine updates to the agency head, including at executive-level meetings, on his or her areas 

of responsibility, progress reports on standards implementation and compliance, and notice of 

any problems or challenges that need to be addressed.

To ensure successful compliance with the PREA standards, the PREA coordinator may need 

to develop strategies to address the culture of the agency or facility(ies) to determine the levels 

of staff and defendant/offender resistance or openness to PREA standards implementation. 

Examples of strategies may include conducting or coordinating assessments by surveying staff 

members and defendants/offenders to understand their attitudes, beliefs, and values that support or conflict with a “reporting” culture that creates safety and security. Based on the results 

of the assessment, the PREA coordinator and facility head(s) should work with key staff on all 

levels to design strategies that create a cultural “readiness” for change (e.g., development of 
12 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

new policies, staff briefings, video briefings from leadership for staff, and strategic planning 

meetings), training programs, and other systems to change the culture to one in which staff 

and defendants/offenders embrace the goals and values of PREA and institutional safety.

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

PP-2 Contracting to house or supervise defendants/offenders under community 

corrections authority

If public community corrections agencies contract for housing or supervision of their defendants/

offenders, they do so only with private agencies or other entities, including nonprofit or other 

government agencies, committed to eliminating sexual abuse, as evidenced by their adoption 

of and compliance with the PREA standards. Any new contracts or contract renewals include 

the entity’s obligation to adopt and comply with the PREA standards and specify that the public 

agency will monitor the entity’s compliance with these standards as part of its monitoring of 

the entity’s performance. Only in emergency circumstances, in which all reasonable attempts to 

find a private agency or other entity in compliance with the PREA standards have failed, should 

a contract be entered into with an entity that fails to comply with these standards. The public 

agency must document these efforts.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the public agency contract for the housing and supervision of defendants/offenders only with private agencies and other entities, including nonprofit or other 

government agencies, that agree to adopt and comply with the PREA standards?

(b) Do all new contracts and contract renewals include an obligation to adopt and comply with the PREA standards?

(c) Do all new contracts and contract renewals specify that the public agency will monitor the entity’s compliance with the PREA standards as part of its monitoring of the 

entity’s performance?

(d) Does the public agency have a policy that only allows contracting with entities not in 

compliance with the PREA standards in emergency circumstances in which all reasonable attempts to contract with an entity in compliance with PREA have failed?

Discussion

The goal of this standard is to ensure that all defendants/offenders, regardless of whether 

they reside in public or private confinement settings or are supervised by public or private 

entities, are protected from sexual abuse. Public agencies that contract with private agencies 

or other entities, including other government agencies, to confine or supervise their defendants/offenders are responsible for ensuring such protection of all defendants/offenders by 

contracting only with those companies or other entities that adopt and comply with the 

PREA standards. If all reasonable attempts to find an entity in compliance with the PREA 

standards have failed, under these emergency circumstances an agency may contract with 

an entity not in compliance with these standards. However, if an agency has contracted 

with a noncompliant entity, there should be a periodic review to determine if circumstances 

have changed that would allow contracting with an entity compliant with PREA standards. 
I. Prevention and Response Planning 13

 Community Corrections Facilities 

PP-3 Defendant/offender supervision

Facility staff provides the defendant/offender supervision necessary to protect defendants/

offenders from sexual abuse. The facility administrators and supervisors responsible for reviewing critical incidents must examine areas in the facility where sexual abuse has occurred or may 

be likely to occur to assess whether physical barriers may allow the abuse to go undetected, the 

adequacy of staffing levels in those areas during different shifts, and the need for monitoring 

technology to supplement facility staff supervision. When problems or needs are identified, facility administrators and supervisors take corrective action (DC-3). 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does facility staff provide the supervision of defendants/offenders necessary to

protect them from sexual abuse?

(b) Do the facility administrators and supervisors responsible for reviewing critical incidents examine areas in the facility where sexual abuse has occurred or may be likely to 

occur to assess the following?

 • Physical barriers that may allow the abuse to go undetected

 • Adequacy of staffing levels in those areas during different shifts

 • Monitoring technology needs

(c) When problems or needs are identified, do facility administrators and supervisors take 

corrective action? (Attach description of corrective actions taken.)

Discussion

Adequate staff supervision of defendants/offenders is an essential component of any agency’s 

sexual abuse prevention strategy. It enables facility staff to identify aggressive or coercive 

defendant/offender behavior before it escalates to sexual abuse, to identify signs of inappropriate staff relationships developing with defendants/offenders before they become abuse, 

to respond immediately to prevent or end incidents of abuse by defendants/offenders or 

staff, and, when an incident does occur, to rapidly take the steps necessary for an effective 

response. 

Some community corrections facilities will be large enough and have a physical layout that 

will allow for direct supervision by facility staff of defendants/offenders. Through direct 

supervision, staff can have continuous direct contact with defendants/offenders, enabling 

them to interact with and observe defendants/offenders at all or most times. When feasible, 

the Commission recommends that these facilities strive to meet this standard by employing 

a direct supervision model.

For many residential facilities, given their size, physical structure, and mission, it is not 

possible or optimal to have continuous direct contact between facility staff and defendants/

offenders. However, facility staff should be properly trained to continually monitor activities within the facility. The standard requires the facility administrators and supervisors 

responsible for reviewing critical incidents to examine known areas where sexual abuse has 

occurred or may be likely to occur to assess and take corrective action regarding any physical barriers that may allow the abuse to go undetected, any problems with staffing levels in 

those areas at different times of the day, and any needs for monitoring technology to supplement facility staff supervision. In examining known areas where sexual abuse has occurred 
14 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

or may be likely to occur, for example, they may find blind spots or inadequate staffing

patterns on particular shifts, which require new or different staff deployment schemes. Such 

reviews may require more frequent rounds by staff or surprise inspections in particularly 

problematic areas. Facility staff should examine each area carefully and take corrective 

action to ensure that defendants/offenders in all areas of the facility are safe from sexual 

abuse. Moreover, when patterns of abuse have been identified in reviews (DC-1, DC-3), 

either at a given time of day, in a particular area, or involving certain types of defendants/

offenders, facility leadership should take action to ensure increased supervision during 

those times, in those areas, or for those groups of defendants/offenders.

 Community Corrections Facilities 

PP-4 Limits to cross-gender viewing and searches

Except in the case of emergency, the facility prohibits cross-gender strip and visual body cavity 

searches. Except in the case of emergency or other extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances, the 

facility restricts nonmedical staff from viewing defendants/offenders of the opposite gender who 

are nude or performing bodily functions and similarly restricts cross-gender pat-down searches. 

Medical practitioners conduct examinations of transgender individuals to determine their genital 

status only in private settings and only when an individual’s genital status is unknown. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Except in the case of emergency, does the facility prohibit cross-gender searches 

of the following types?

 • Strip

 • Visual body cavity

(b) Except in the case of emergency or other extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances, 

does the facility restrict cross-gender viewing by nonmedical staff of defendants/

offenders who are nude or performing bodily functions?

(c) Except in the case of emergency or other extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances, 

does the facility restrict cross-gender pat-down searches?

(d) Are examinations of transgender individuals to determine their genital status 

conducted only by medical practitioners in private settings and only when an 

individual’s genital status is unknown?

Discussion

The goal of this standard is to protect the privacy and dignity of defendants/offenders and 

to reduce opportunities for staff-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse by prohibiting crossgender strip and visual body cavity searches, setting limits on cross-gender viewing of 

defendants/offenders by nonmedical staff, and restricting cross-gender pat-down searches. 

This standard imposes a strong prohibition on cross-gender strip and visual body cavity 

searches, except in the case of emergency. Performance of these more intrusive strip searches and body cavity searches should be undertaken only by specially trained, designated 

employees of the same gender and conducted in conformance with hygienic procedures and 

professional practices.

This standard does not place a prohibition on cross-gender pat-down searches and viewing of defendants/offenders, but requires these actions to be strictly limited in practice and 
I. Prevention and Response Planning 15

only in the case of emergency or other extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances. The

Commission recognizes that many State and local laws already restrict cross-gender viewing 

of defendants/offenders and encourages agencies to consult and follow their relevant State and 

local laws. The Commission likewise acknowledges that cross-gender supervision, in general, 

can prove beneficial in certain confinement settings and in no way intends for this standard to 

limit employment (or position assignment) opportunities for men or women.

Agencies are encouraged to use a number of tools to aid compliance with the portion of this 

standard prohibiting viewing defendants/offenders of the opposite gender who are nude or 

performing bodily functions. In small residential facilities, this may not be an issue given 

the physical layout and private bathroom areas where residents are able to close doors. In 

larger community corrections facilities, the layout of the facility may require other methods 

to comply with this standard, including the use of privacy panels for shower and toilet areas 

and making verbal announcements when a staff member of the opposite gender is in an area. 

Many community corrections facilities may not engage in either strip or visual body cavity 

searches. However, if staff is permitted to conduct such searches, each agency is encouraged to have a strong, legally based policy regarding all searches (including same-gender 

searches) that gives proper regard to the defendant/offender’s rights to privacy and dignity. 

In some facilities, although perhaps not often in community corrections, employees conduct 

strip or body cavity searches of transgender individuals ostensibly to determine their genital 

status. All too frequently, such examinations are not necessary because the individual’s genital status was already determined at an initial medical screening. To protect the privacy and 

dignity of transgender individuals, this standard prohibits examinations to determine genital 

status when that status has already been ascertained. Additionally, this standard requires examinations to determine genital status be conducted in private and by medical practitioners.

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

PP-5 Accommodating defendants/offenders with special needs 

The agency or facility ensures that defendants/offenders who are limited English proficient (LEP), 

deaf, or disabled are able to report sexual abuse to staff directly, through interpretive technology, 

or through nondefendant/offender interpreters. Accommodations are made to convey all written information about sexual abuse policies, including how to report sexual abuse, verbally to 

defendants/offenders who have limited reading skills or who are visually impaired.

 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Are all LEP, deaf, and disabled defendants/offenders able to report sexual abuse to 

staff directly, through interpretive technology, or through non-defendant/offender 

interpreters? 

(b) Are accommodations made to convey all written information about sexual abuse 

policies, including how to report sexual abuse, verbally to defendants/offenders with 

limited reading skills or who are visually impaired?

Discussion

The ability of all defendants/offenders to communicate effectively and directly with staff, 

without having to rely on defendant/offender interpreters, is crucial for ensuring that they 

are able to report sexual abuse as discreetly as possible. It is never desirable or sufficient for 
16 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

defendants/offenders to serve as interpreters or translators for other defendants/offenders 

to report abuse because it compromises confidentiality and places some defendants/offenders in a position of undue influence over others. It is likewise critical that all defendants/

offenders be informed of the agency’s policies, including how to report, in a way and format 

that they understand. If the language and communication needs of the defendant/offender 

population are unknown, the facility head or PREA coordinator may need to conduct an assessment of those needs and develop policies and protocols to address them. Having strong 

policies and protocols will help staff ensure the safety of LEP, deaf, and disabled defendants/

offenders as well as those defendants/offenders who have limited reading skills or who are 

visually impaired. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

PP-6 Hiring and promotion decisions

The agency or facility does not hire or promote anyone who has engaged in sexual abuse in an 

institutional setting or who has engaged in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, 

the threat of force, or coercion. Consistent with Federal, State, and local law, the agency or facility 

makes its best effort to contact all prior institutional employers for information on substantiated allegations of sexual abuse and must run criminal background checks for all applicants and 

employees being considered for promotion and examine and carefully weigh any history of criminal activity at work or in the community, including convictions or adjudications for domestic 

violence, stalking, and sex offenses. The agency or facility also asks all applicants and employees 

directly about previous misconduct during interviews and reviews.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Consistent with Federal, State, and local law, does the agency or facility make its best 

effort to contact all prior institutional employers for information on substantiated 

allegations of sexual abuse?

(b) Does the agency or facility disqualify applicants or employees being considered for 

promotion upon learning of the following?

 • Any history of substantiated allegations of sexual abuse in an institutional setting

 • That they have engaged in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, the 

threat of force, or coercion

(c) Does the agency or facility run criminal background checks for all applicants and 

employees being considered for promotion?

(d) Does the agency or facility carefully consider any history of criminal activity at work

or in the community, including the following?

 • Any convictions or adjudications for domestic violence

 • Any convictions or adjudications for stalking

 • Any convictions or adjudications for sex offenses committed in the community

(e) Does the agency or facility ask all applicants and employees directly about previous 

misconduct during interviews and reviews?

Discussion

An agency will not be able to meet its zero-tolerance goal if it employs or promotes anyone 

who has engaged in sexual abuse in an institutional setting or who has engaged in sexual 

activity facilitated by force, the threat of force, or coercion. Coercion includes but is not 
I. Prevention and Response Planning 17

limited to using a position of authority or power to compel someone to engage in sexual 

activity. Changing agency and facility culture and eliminating sexual abuse can be difficult 

enough without adding the unnecessary additional risk of hiring or retaining individuals 

whose conduct has demonstrated a lack of personal commitment to PREA’s goals. In addition to making its best effort to contact all prior institutional employers for information on 

substantiated allegations of sexual abuse, the agency or facility should have a consistent, 

proactive policy on asking applicants and employees directly about previous misconduct 

during interviews or reviews. In jurisdictions in which prospective employers are limited in 

their inquiry of previous employment or criminal background, the agency should consider 

having job applicants sign waivers, if not prohibited by law, stating that they waive their 

legal rights to claim libel, defamation, or slander regarding any information given during 

reference checks about their disciplinary history involving sexual abuse. 

Although many agencies and facilities already run routine criminal background checks for 

applicants, the standard requires agencies to run such checks, where allowable by law, both 

for all applicants and for employees being considered for promotion to ensure that agencies and facilities are always up to date on any criminal activity perpetrated by applicants 

or employees since gaining employment. The standard does not prescribe how to evaluate 

criminal histories because the Commission recognizes that the agency or facility will have 

to consider each criminal history on a case-by-case basis and within a larger context of 

the person’s background, life experiences, and work history. When considering previous 

criminal activity, the agency or facility will have to weigh a number of factors, including 

the nature and number of offenses and how much time has passed since any convictions, to 

determine whether to hire or promote an individual.

Response Planning (RP)

 Community Corrections Facilities 

RP-1 Evidence protocol and forensic medical exams

The agency or facility follows a uniform evidence protocol that maximizes the potential for obtaining usable physical evidence for administrative proceedings and criminal prosecutions. The 

protocol must be adapted from or otherwise based on the 2004 U.S. Department of Justice’s 

Office on Violence Against Women publication “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical 

Forensic Examinations, Adults/Adolescents,” subsequent updated editions, or similarly comprehensive and authoritative protocols developed after 2004. As part of the agency’s or facility’s 

evidence collection protocol, the agency or facility refers all victims of defendant/offender-ondefendant/offender sexually abusive penetration or staff-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive penetration to forensic medical exams performed by qualified forensic medical examiners. 

Forensic medical exams are provided free of charge to the victim. The agency or facility makes 

available or provides referrals to a victim advocate to accompany the victim through the forensic 

medical exam process.
18 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Has the agency or facility developed a written protocol adapted from or otherwise 

based on the U.S. Department of Justice’s “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault 

Medical Forensic Examinations, Adults/Adolescents,” any subsequent updated editions, or similarly comprehensive and authoritative protocols developed after 2004 

that will govern its response to incidents of sexual abuse?

(b) Does the agency or facility provide victims of defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive penetration or staff-on-defendant/offender sexually abusive 

penetration with access to a forensic medical exam?

(c) Where available in the local jurisdiction, are all forensic medical exams provided by the 

agency or facility performed by a qualified forensic medical examiner?

(d) Are forensic medical exams provided free of charge to the victim?

(e) Does the agency or facility make available or provide a referral to a victim advocate to 

accompany the victim through the forensic medical exam process?

Discussion

At the time of publication of this body of standards, the 2004 U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women publication “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical 

Forensic Examinations, Adults/Adolescents” is considered the “gold standard” of sexual assault evidence protocols by the law enforcement and forensic medical examiner communities. 

The protocol can be found electronically at the following Web address: http://www.ncjrs.

gov/pdffiles1/ovw/206554.pdf. The agency or facility head should review the national protocol or a subsequent updated edition and incorporate it into the agency’s or facility’s current protocol or use it to develop a new agency or facility protocol by adapting the national 

protocol to fit the agency’s or facility’s needs, resources, and policies. The agency or facility 

head may find it particularly helpful to consult Appendix A of the national protocol, which 

provides guidance on how jurisdictions can customize the national protocol to meet specific 

local needs, challenges, policies, and statutes.

Not all parts of the evidence protocol may apply to activities undertaken by a community 

corrections facility or supervision agency. An agency or facility may not have either medical 

or investigative employees. They may refer any allegations of sexual abuse immediately to 

community law enforcement entities who handle all aspects of the investigation. However, 

any agency or facility should ensure that it follows those aspects of the protocol necessary 

to preserve evidence up to the point when local law enforcement or medical practitioners 

are brought into the process. This standard is meant to ensure that actions by agency or 

facility staff do not jeopardize future criminal prosecutions or administrative proceedings 

by compromising crucial evidence. 

If the agency or facility does employ medical or mental health practitioners, the agency or 

facility head should ensure that all medical and mental health practitioners who treat defendant/offender victims of sexual abuse understand the importance of conducting prompt examinations to identify medical and mental health needs and minimize the loss of evidence. 

It is critical that victims’ acute medical and mental health needs be evaluated and addressed 

before evidence is collected on-site or before they are transported off-site for evidence collection. Key elements of proper evidence collection, discussed at length in the national protocol, include: (1) instructing victims not to wash, brush their teeth, change their clothes, 

urinate, defecate, smoke, drink, or eat until they have been initially evaluated by a forensic 

medical examiner (OR-3) and (2) educating individuals involved in the handling, documentation, transfer, and storage of evidence about how to preserve evidence and maintain the 
I. Prevention and Response Planning 19

chain of custody. Victims must be offered the opportunity to undergo a forensic medical 

exam, but the decision is a voluntary one for the victim to make. If there are no medical 

or mental health practitioners employed with the agency or facility, other agency or facility 

employees should be trained as first responders to ensure they do not compromise the collection of evidence (OR-3).

Additionally, the forensic medical exam is an important element of both evidence collection 

and treatment for recent sexual abuse victims. When possible, it is considered best practice 

to transport victims to outside health care providers for forensic medical exams to avoid any 

conflict or appearance of conflict of interest regarding potential evidence or treatment of the 

victim. If an agency or facility does not have access to any community providers able to perform forensic medical exams or if a specific defendant/offender in need of an exam has been 

deemed a flight risk or too dangerous to transport out of the facility, it should take steps to 

contract with qualified independent medical practitioners to perform the forensic exams 

at the facility. When an individual defendant/offender has been deemed a flight risk or too

dangerous to transport out of the facility, the facility head should document in writing at the time 

the decision is made the factors that led to the decision not to transport the defendant/offender 

off-site. Please see Appendix A for more on the responsibilities of forensic medical examiners.

 Community Corrections Facilities 

RP-2 Agreements with outside public entities and community service providers 

The agency or facility maintains or attempts to enter into written memoranda of understanding 

(MOUs) or other agreements with an outside public entity or office that is able to receive and immediately forward defendant/offender reports of sexual abuse to agency or facility heads (RE-1). 

The agency also maintains or attempts to enter into MOUs or other agreements with community 

service providers that are able to: (1) provide defendants/offenders with confidential emotional 

support services related to sexual abuse and (2) help victims of sexual abuse during their transition 

from a community corrections facility into the community. The agency or facility maintains copies 

of written agreements or documentation showing attempts to enter into agreements.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility maintain an agreement or attempt to enter into an agreement with an outside public entity or office that is able to receive and immediately 

forward defendant/offender reports of sexual abuse to agency or facility heads?

(b) Does the agency maintain or attempt to enter into agreements with community 

service providers that are able to do the following?

 • Help victims of sexual abuse during their transition from community corrections 

facilities into the community

 • Provide defendants/offenders with confidential emotional support services related 

to sexual abuse

(c) Does the agency or facility maintain copies of agreements or documentation showing 

attempts to enter into agreements?

Discussion

Working to establish partnerships with outside public entities and community service providers will enable the agency or facility to meet the requirements of standards RE-1, RE-3, 

and MM-2 most effectively. Forging these partnerships will allow the agency or facility to 
20 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

provide the range of services available in the community and will give defendants/offenders 

the choice to speak to someone not affiliated with the agency if they feel more comfortable 

doing so. As a result of their status in the community, defendants/offenders may already 

have greater access to community resources than incarcerated individuals. However, the 

Commission believes the community corrections agency or facility should still attempt to 

establish partnerships to ensure that defendants/offenders are provided resources for reporting sexual abuse and obtaining support services. 

When an agency or facility establishes an MOU with an outside public entity or office to 

receive defendant/offender reports of sexual abuse, it should make clear that the outside 

public entity is responsible for forwarding those reports back to the agency or facility immediately upon receipt, unless the defendant/offender requests confidentiality (RE-1). For cases 

in which facilities are located in areas lacking adequate community service providers willing to provide victim support services to defendants/offenders, the agency or facility head 

is required by RE-3 to identify regional and/or national agencies or groups that defendants/

offenders may be able to access by telephone or, if no other alternative is possible, by mail 

and provide defendants/offenders with that contact information. 

Although the Commission recognizes that community corrections agencies or facilities may 

not be able to persuade outside public entities or community service providers to enter 

into formal agreements, it nonetheless requires agencies or facilities to try to enter into 

agreements. For community corrections agencies or facilities that successfully enter into 

agreements with outside public entities and community service providers, the Commission 

recommends that agreements contain the following elements: (1) the purpose of the agreement; (2) the respective roles and responsibilities of the community corrections agency 

or facility and outside public entity or community service provider; (3) the procedures for 

how and when community service providers may enter a residential facility; (4) the safety 

precautions that community service providers should take when working with defendants/

offenders; and (5) any laws, rules, and/or regulations relevant to the service being provided, 

including laws granting privilege and agency or facility rules governing confidentiality for 

disclosures about sexual abuse made to community service providers.

 Community Corrections Facilities 

RP-3 Agreements with outside law enforcement agencies 

If an agency or facility does not have the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations or 

has elected to permit an outside agency to conduct criminal or administrative investigations of 

staff or defendants/offenders, the agency or facility maintains or attempts to enter into a written 

MOU or other agreement specific to investigations of sexual abuse with the law enforcement 

agency responsible for conducting investigations. If the agency or facility confines defendants/

offenders under the age of 18 or applicable age of majority within that jurisdiction, or other 

defendants/offenders who fall under State and local vulnerable persons statutes, the agency 

or facility maintains or attempts to enter into an MOU with the designated State or local services agency with the jurisdiction and authority to conduct investigations related to the sexual 

abuse of vulnerable persons within community corrections facilities. When the agency or facility already has an existing agreement or long-standing policy covering responsibilities for all 

criminal investigations, including sexual abuse investigations, it does not need to enter into a new
I. Prevention and Response Planning 21

agreement. The agency or facility maintains a copy of the written agreement or documentation 

showing attempts to enter into an agreement.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) If the agency or facility does not have the legal authority to conduct criminal investigations or has elected to permit an outside agency to conduct criminal or administrative 

investigations of staff or defendants/offenders, has the agency or facility established or 

attempted to establish a written MOU or other agreement specific to investigations of 

sexual abuse with the law enforcement agency responsible for conducting investigations?

(b) If the agency or facility confines defendants/offenders under the age of 18 or other 

defendants/offenders who fall under State and local vulnerable persons statutes, has the 

agency or facility established or attempted to establish an MOU with the designated 

State or local services agency with the jurisdiction and authority to conduct investigations related to the sexual abuse of vulnerable persons within community corrections 

facilities?

(c) Does the agency or facility maintain a copy of the agreement or documentation 

showing attempts to enter into an agreement?

Discussion

Standing agreements between community corrections agencies or facilities and outside law 

enforcement agencies outlining how they will work together while investigating an incident 

of sexual abuse are important for ensuring that investigations into allegations of sexual 

abuse are timely and effective. Although the Commission recognizes that community corrections agencies or facilities may not be able to persuade outside law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements, it nonetheless requires agencies or facilities to try to enter 

into agreements. For community corrections agencies or facilities that successfully enter 

into agreements with outside law enforcement agencies, the Commission recommends that 

agreements contain the following elements: (1) the criteria, protocol, and timetables for 

referring an allegation of sexual abuse to the outside law enforcement agency for investigation; (2) the respective roles and responsibilities for conducting sexual abuse investigations; 

(3) the respective roles and responsibilities of the community corrections and law enforcement agencies for collecting evidence in accordance with the community corrections or 

law enforcement agency’s evidence protocol; (4) detailed information on how criminal and 

administrative investigations will be coordinated between the agencies; (5) description of 

what information will and will not be shared between agencies; (6) the protocol for reporting progress on investigations to community corrections officials; (7) the location of where 

closed case files will be maintained; (8) the protocol for informing the victim of the progress 

and outcome of the investigation(s); and (9) a schedule of regular meetings between the 

agency and law enforcement supervisors to review the efficacy of the agreement and to 

recommend or make any changes, as necessary. 

If the agency or facility confines any defendants/offenders under the age of 18 or applicable 

age of majority within that jurisdiction, or defendants/offenders who fall under State or local 

vulnerable persons statutes, an outside services agency will likely have the authority and 

jurisdiction to conduct separate investigations into allegations of sexual abuse committed 

against such vulnerable persons. If this is the case, the agency or facility should enter or attempt to enter into an MOU with the State or local services agency, as they would with any 

law enforcement agency with the authority to conduct investigations, and follow the same 

recommendations listed above. 
22 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

 Community Corrections Facilities 

RP-4 Agreements with the prosecuting authority 

The agency or facility maintains or attempts to enter into a written MOU or other agreement with 

the authority responsible for prosecuting violations of criminal law. The agency or facility maintains 

a copy of the written agreement or documentation showing attempts to enter into an agreement.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Has the agency or facility established or attempted to establish a written MOU or 

other agreement with the authority responsible for prosecuting violations of criminal 

law?

(b) Does the agency or facility maintain a copy of the agreement or documentation 

showing attempts to enter into an agreement?

Discussion

Greater collaboration and communication between community corrections agencies or facilities and prosecutors can dramatically affect the success of sexual abuse prosecutions, 

improving accountability and preventing the recurrence of incidents of sexual abuse. The 

Commission urges the agency or facility head to maintain regular, ongoing discussions 

with prosecutors about issues related to any allegations of criminal conduct in the agency 

or facility.

Although the Commission recognizes that community corrections agencies or facilities may 

not be able to persuade prosecuting authorities to enter into agreements, it nonetheless 

requires agencies or facilities to try to enter into agreements. For community corrections 

agencies or facilities that successfully enter into agreements with prosecutors, the Commission recommends that agreements contain the following elements: (1) the purpose of the 

agreement (e.g., to ensure effective prosecution of sexual abuse in community corrections 

settings); (2) identification of the liaison position within each agency/facility; (3) a schedule for joint training of investigators and prosecutors; (4) objective criteria for prosecution 

referral; (5) a description of the necessary evidence and relevant paperwork prosecutors 

will need from the agency or facility to prosecute a case of sexual abuse; (6) timeframes for 

submission of criminal cases to prosecutors; (7) a requirement that prosecutors report back 

to community corrections agencies or facilities after each case is reviewed; (8) the respective 

roles and responsibilities of the community corrections agency or facility and the prosecuting authority if the prosecutor decides to prosecute; and (9) a schedule of regular meetings 

between the agency or facility and prosecution supervisors to review the efficacy of the 

agreement and to recommend or make any changes, as necessary. 
II. Prevention 23

II. PREVENTION

Training and Education (TR)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

TR-1 Employee training 

The agency or facility trains all employees to be able to fulfill their responsibilities under agency or 

facility sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response policies and procedures; the PREA standards; and under relevant Federal, State, and local law. The agency or facility trains all employees to communicate effectively and professionally with all defendants/offenders. Additionally, 

the agency or facility trains all employees on a defendant/offender’s right to be free from sexual 

abuse, the right of defendants/offenders and employees to be free from retaliation for reporting 

sexual abuse, the dynamics of sexual abuse, and the common reactions of sexual abuse victims. 

Current employees are educated as soon as possible following the agency’s or facility’s adoption 

of the PREA standards, and the agency or facility provides periodic refresher information to all 

employees to ensure that they know the agency’s or facility’s most current sexual abuse policies 

and procedures. The agency or facility maintains written documentation showing employee signatures verifying that employees understand the training they have received. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Do employees receive the training necessary to fulfill their responsibilities under 

agency or facility sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response policies and

procedures; the PREA standards; and relevant Federal, State, and local law?

(b) Does the agency or facility train all employees to communicate effectively and

professionally with all defendants/offenders and emphasize the communication skills 

necessary when addressing issues of sexual abuse?

(c) Does the agency or facility train all employees on the following topics?

 • A defendant/offender’s right to be free from sexual abuse

 • The right of defendants/offenders and employees to be free from retaliation for 

reporting sexual abuse

 • The dynamics of sexual abuse (i.e., gender, cultural differences)

 • The common reactions of sexual abuse victims

(d) Does the agency or facility provide periodic refresher training to ensure that all

employees are educated on the agency’s or facility’s most current sexual abuse

policies and procedures?

(e) Following training, does the agency or facility require employees to sign documentation stating that they understand the training they have received and maintain 

documentation of these signatures?

Discussion

Under this standard, each agency or facility must provide employees with the knowledge and 

skills to prevent sexual abuse from occurring, to identify signs that sexual abuse may be occurring, and to take the appropriate actions when they learn of recent or historical incidents 

of sexual abuse. Additionally, it is important that all employees are trained to communicate 

effectively and professionally with all defendants/offenders, including those of different races,

ethnicities, cultural or religious backgrounds, ages, genders, and sexual orientations as well as 
24 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

defendants/offenders with differing cognitive abilities. It is also important that all staff members 

are trained to communicate effectively and professionally about issues related to sexual abuse. 

Good communication encourages greater trust between employees and defendants/offenders, 

which may remove one of the obstacles to defendant/offender reporting of sexual abuse. 

Employee training can take place in multiple venues, including roll calls, on-the-job training, new employee orientations, and pre-service or in-service academies. It is recommended that an agency’s or facility’s sexual abuse training programs be accompanied by clear 

sexual abuse prevention policies developed with an eye toward overcoming any anticipated 

employee resistance to or concerns about such policies. When putting together a training 

plan, agency or facility administrators and/or PREA coordinators may find it helpful to consult the many resources and training materials already available, including those developed 

by other local, State, and Federal correctional agencies; the National Institute of Corrections 

(NIC); and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). 

A full list of suggested employee training topics and procedures is provided in Appendix B. 

Although Appendix B is not an exhaustive or exclusive list, agencies or facilities may wish 

to use these items as a starting point for developing their own employee training curriculum 

and programs. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

TR-2 Volunteer and contractor training

The agency or facility ensures that all volunteers and contractors who have contact through 

the agency or facility with defendants/offenders have been trained on their responsibilities under the agency’s sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response policies and procedures; the 

PREA standards; and relevant Federal, State, and local law. The level and type of training provided to volunteers and contractors is based on the services they provide and level of contact 

they have with defendants/offenders, but all volunteers and contractors who have contact with 

defendants/offenders must be notified of the agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse. Volunteers must also be trained in how to report sexual abuse. The agency or 

facility maintains written documentation showing volunteer and contractor signatures verifying 

that they understand the training they have received.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility ensure that all volunteers and contractors who have 

contact through the agency with defendants/offenders have been trained on their 

responsibilities under the agency’s sexual abuse prevention, detection, and response 

policies and procedures; the PREA standards; and relevant Federal, State and local law?

(b) Does the agency or facility tailor its training for volunteers and contractors based on the 

services they provide and the level of contact they have with defendants/offenders?

(c) Are all volunteers and contractors who have contact with defendants/offenders 

notified of the agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and 

trained in how to report sexual abuse to staff and/or other parties, when appropriate?

(d) Are all volunteers trained in how to report sexual abuse to facility staff and/or other 

parties, when appropriate?

(e) Following training, does the agency or facility require volunteers and contractors to 

sign documentation stating that they understand the training they have received and 

maintain documentation of these signatures?
II. Prevention 25

Discussion

Because many volunteers have frequent contact with defendants/offenders, it is important 

that all volunteers for the agency or facility receive basic training on the PREA standards, 

the agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance policy, and their responsibilities for reporting sexual 

abuse to facility security staff. Additionally, any contractors who have any contact with 

defendants/offenders, however minimal, will also need to be trained on the agency’s zerotolerance policy. The agency or facility may choose to provide more detailed training for all 

or some subset of volunteers, including many of the same topics suggested for employee 

training in Appendix B. 

Volunteer training may take many forms, including the provision of written information 

in manual or pamphlet form, as long as there is some record that volunteers have received 

and understand the information. Volunteers may be trained off-site by their volunteer organization as long as the organization’s training program meets the minimum requirements 

outlined in this standard. In these instances, the agency or facility must verify that the 

off-site training meets the requirements of this standard and maintain documentation that 

volunteers have received and understand this training, as mandated by the standard. If the 

agency or facility trains volunteers, agency or facility administrators and/or PREA coordinators may find it helpful to consult the many resources and training materials already 

available, including those developed by other local, State, and Federal correctional agencies; 

NIC; and BJA. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

TR-3 Defendant/offender education 

During the intake process into a facility or upon initial stages of supervision, staff informs defendants/offenders of the agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and 

how to report incidents or suspicions of sexual abuse. Within a reasonably brief period of time, 

the agency or facility provides comprehensive education to defendants/offenders regarding their 

right to be free from sexual abuse and to be free from retaliation for reporting abuse, the dynamics of sexual abuse, the common reactions of sexual abuse victims, and agency or facility sexual 

abuse response policies and procedures. Current defendants/offenders are educated as soon as 

possible following the agency’s or facility’s adoption of the PREA standards, and the agency or 

facility provides periodic refresher information to all defendants/offenders to ensure that they 

know the agency’s or facility’s most current sexual abuse policies and procedures. Periodic refresher training may or may not be necessary in community corrections facilities given the shorter time period defendants/offenders may reside in these facilities. The agency or facility provides 

defendant/offender education in formats accessible to all defendants/offenders, including those 

who are LEP, deaf, visually impaired, or otherwise disabled as well as defendants/offenders who 

have limited reading skills. All information provided to defendants/offenders is communicated in 

a manner that is appropriate for the defendant/offender’s age and level of cognitive and emotional development. The agency or facility maintains written documentation of defendant/offender 

participation in these education sessions. 
26 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) During the intake process and upon initial stages of supervision, does staff inform 

defendants/offenders of the agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual 

abuse?

(b) During the intake process and upon initial stages of supervision, does staff tell

defendants/offenders how to report incidents or suspicions of sexual abuse?

(c) Does the agency or facility provide comprehensive education to defendants/offenders 

within a reasonably brief period of time following the intake process or upon initial 

stages of supervision? 

(d) Does the comprehensive education for defendants/offenders include the following 

topics?

 • A defendant’s/offender’s right to be free from sexual abuse and free from retaliation 

for reporting abuse

 • The dynamics of sexual abuse in community corrections

 • The common reactions of sexual abuse victims

 • Agency or facility sexual abuse response policies and procedures

(e) Does the agency or facility provide periodic refresher training to ensure that all 

defendants/offenders are educated on the agency or facility’s most current sexual 

abuse policies and procedures?

(f) Does the agency or facility make training information available in formats accessible 

to all defendants/offenders, including those who are LEP, deaf, visually impaired, or 

otherwise disabled and defendants/offenders who have limited reading skills?

(g) Is all information provided to defendants/offenders communicated in a manner that 

is appropriate for the defendant/offender’s age and level of cognitive and emotional 

development?

(h) Does the agency or facility verify a defendant/offender’s attendance at training

sessions and maintain this written verification?

Discussion

Defendants/offenders need to be educated about the agency’s or facility’s sexual abuse policies so they understand how to protect themselves against sexual abuse, how to report 

sexual abuse, what will happen following a report, and the consequences for committing 

sexual abuse. A strong defendant/offender education program will send a message to defendants/offenders that sexual abuse is taken seriously and that the agency or facility will 

protect defendants/offenders who report incidents of sexual abuse and refer investigations 

for disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution. If the agency or facility is responsible 

for the supervision of young defendants/offenders, the education program should be suited 

for that population. For example, younger defendants/offenders will need to learn about 

the agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance policy in a way that does not frighten or confuse 

them, perhaps by explaining to the young defendants/offenders that no relationships beyond friendship are permitted. 

In addition to determining an appropriate time frame for providing comprehensive education to new defendants/offenders, the agency or facility should develop a plan for providing the defendant/offender education program to current defendants/offenders to ensure 

that training is provided within a reasonable period of time after the adoption of the PREA 

standards, as required by this standard. Although the standard requires periodic refresher 

training, this may or may not be necessary in community corrections facilities given the 

shorter time period defendants/offenders may reside in these facilities. 
II. Prevention 27

Staff conducting the training should consider using some of the following tools, depending 

on the learning needs of the training population: videos, written materials, and structured 

discussions. As with developing a staff or volunteer training program, when putting together a 

defendant/offender training plan, agency administrators and/or PREA coordinators may find 

it helpful to consult the many resources and training materials already available, including 

those developed by other local, State, and Federal correctional agencies; NIC; and BJA. 

Staff may need to train defendants/offenders in small groups and in settings with few distractions, due to the sensitive nature of the material. In addition to training sessions provided at specific times, the agency or facility should ensure key information is continually 

and readily available and/or visible to the defendant/offender population through posters, 

defendant/offender handbooks, or other written formats.

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

TR-4 Specialized training: Investigations

In addition to the general training provided to all employees (TR-1), the agency or facility ensures that investigators employed by the agency or facility and conducting sexual abuse investigations have received comprehensive and up-to-date training in conducting such investigations 

in community corrections settings. Specialized training must include population-appropriate 

techniques for interviewing sexual abuse victims, proper use of Miranda- and Garrity-type warnings, sexual abuse evidence collection in community corrections settings, and the criteria and 

evidence required to substantiate a case for administrative action or prosecution referral. The 

agency or facility maintains written documentation that investigators have completed the required specialized training in conducting sexual abuse investigations.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility ensure that all investigators employed by the agency or 

facility conducting sexual abuse investigations have received training in conducting 

such investigations in confinement settings?

(b) Does specialized training for sexual abuse investigators include the following?

 • Techniques for interviewing sexual abuse victims

 • Proper use of Miranda- and Garrity-type warnings

 • Sexual abuse evidence collection in community corrections settings

 • Criteria and evidence required to substantiate a case for administrative action or 

prosecution referral

(c) Does the agency or facility verify that investigators have completed specialized training in conducting sexual abuse investigations and maintain written verification?

Discussion

Substantiating and resolving incidents of sexual abuse requires highly competent investigations. 

Sexual abuse investigations in community corrections settings are particularly complicated, and 

an agency will not be successful in addressing abuse if it does not ensure that investigators are 

sufficiently trained. Many community corrections or pretrial, probation, or parole agencies will 

not employ their own investigators and will instead refer cases to local law enforcement. Under 

those circumstances, the requirements of this standard will not apply; instead, agency or facility 

heads will need to make efforts to develop an MOU with law enforcement entities (RP-3).
28 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Because the trauma of sexual abuse can be especially devastating to victims who may already feel powerless and isolated, special care should be given to the quality and training of 

the investigator to ensure that victims and witnesses are treated in a manner that facilitates 

victims’ recovery and cooperation. Young defendants/offenders may be particularly reluctant to speak with investigators. Investigators working in or with agencies or facilities that 

house or supervise young defendants/offenders will benefit from training in techniques for 

communicating effectively with young victims without re-traumatizing them. It is critically important for sexual abuse investigators to be trained in how to interview sexual 

abuse victims and witnesses of all ages and backgrounds, who may be reluctant to speak 

to investigators or generally uncooperative. Such training may include strategies for communicating effectively and professionally with all types of defendants/offenders but may 

also include simple ideas such as making sure that victims and witnesses are interviewed 

in locations where they feel comfortable talking about the incident. Additionally, all investigators should know how and when to administer Miranda- and/or Garrity-type warnings 

to subjects of investigations. 

Collecting evidence in community corrections settings requires that investigators understand where to look for evidence in these settings, including DNA evidence, and how staff 

will secure and preserve crime scenes. Sexual abuse investigators should also know how 

and when to photograph injuries. In addition to knowing how to collect evidence in a community corrections setting, investigators also need to know how to evaluate that evidence 

according to the different standards of proof required to substantiate a case for administrative action or prosecution referral. It may also be helpful for investigators to have an understanding of how cases are evaluated for prosecutorial merit. 

When developing training curricula for investigators, the agency or facility may find it 

helpful to consult training materials developed by other Federal, State, and local correctional agencies; NIC; and BJA. In the event individual investigators have previously received the comprehensive training described above and within a time period consistent 

with the agency’s or facility’s requirements, the agency or facility does not need to re-train 

the investigators. In such instances, the agency or facility will need to verify the investigators’ preexisting knowledge and understanding of the requirements listed in this standard 

and their responsibilities under agency or facility policy; the PREA standards; and Federal, 

State, or local law.

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

TR-5 Specialized training: Medical and mental health care

The agency or facility ensures that all medical and mental health care practitioners employed 

or contracted with by the community corrections or pretrial, probation, or parole agency have 

been trained in how to detect and assess signs of sexual abuse and how to preserve physical evidence of sexual abuse. All medical and mental health care practitioners must be trained in how 

to respond effectively and professionally to victims of sexual abuse and how and to whom to 

report allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse. The agency or facility maintains documentation 

that medical and mental health practitioners have received this specialized training. 
II. Prevention 29

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility ensure that all medical and mental health care practitioners 

employed by or contracted with the agency or facility have been trained in how to 

detect and assess signs of sexual abuse?

(b) Does the agency or facility ensure that all medical practitioners employed by or 

contracted with the agency or facility have been trained in how to preserve physical 

evidence? 

(c) Are all staff or contract medical and mental health care practitioners trained in how 

to respond effectively and professionally to all victims of sexual abuse?

(d) Does the agency or facility provide training in how and to whom to report allegations 

or suspicions of sexual abuse?

(e) Does the agency or facility verify that all staff or contract medical and mental health 

practitioners have received specialized training in detecting, assessing, and responding 

to sexual abuse victims and maintain this written verification?

Discussion

Defendants/offenders are often more likely to report sexual abuse to medical or mental 

health practitioners rather than to other staff. It is therefore critical that agencies or facilities provide training for medical and mental health practitioners on how to detect sexual 

abuse and how to elicit, receive, and forward reports of sexual abuse. If the agency or facility is responsible for the supervision of young defendants/offenders, medical and mental 

health practitioners should be trained and experienced in working with children and young 

victims of sexual abuse. Many community corrections and pretrial, probation, and parole 

agencies may not employ or contract with their own medical or mental health practitioners. 

Under those circumstances, the requirements of this standard will not apply. 

This standard requires that staff or contract medical or mental health practitioners who 

regularly work at a facility or with an agency be specially trained. The Commission recognizes that there may be occasions in which a practitioner works on an extremely short, ad 

hoc basis. For example, a practitioner may be serving as an emergency substitute for a sick 

staff member. The standard does not require the agency to ensure such practitioners have 

received the special training, although it may want to do so to guarantee that at least one 

specially trained practitioner is on duty at all times. 

In the event medical and mental health care practitioners have previously received the 

training described above and within a time period consistent with the agency’s or facility’s 

requirements, the agency does not need to re-train the medical and mental health care staff. 

In such instances, the agency will need to verify the staff members’ preexisting knowledge 

and understanding of the requirements listed in this standard and their responsibilities under agency policy; the PREA standards; and Federal, State, or local law.
30 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Screening for Risk of Sexual Victimization and 

Abusiveness (SC)

 Community Corrections Facilities 

SC-1 Screening for risk of victimization and abusiveness 

All defendants/offenders are screened during intake to assess their risk of being sexually 

abused by other defendants/offenders or sexually abusive toward other defendants/offenders. 

Employees must review information received with the defendant/offender as well as discussions 

with the defendant/offender. Employees must conduct this screening using a written screening 

instrument tailored to the gender of the population being screened. Although additional factors 

may be considered, particularly to account for emerging research and the agency’s or facility’s own 

data analysis, screening instruments must contain the criteria described below. For defendants/

offenders under the age of 18 or applicable age of majority within that jurisdiction, screening must 

be conducted by medical or mental health practitioners. If the facility does not have medical or 

mental health practitioners available, these young defendants/offenders are given an opportunity 

to participate in screenings in private. All screening instruments must be made available to the 

public upon request. 

• At a minimum, employees use the following criteria to screen male defendants/offenders for risk 

of victimization: mental or physical disability, young age, slight build, nonviolent history, prior 

convictions for sex offenses against an adult or child, sexual orientation of gay or bisexual, gender 

nonconformance (e.g., transgender or intersex identity), prior sexual victimization, and the defendant/offender’s own perception of vulnerability.

• At a minimum, employees use the following criteria to screen male defendants/offenders for risk 

of being sexually abusive: prior acts of sexual abuse and prior convictions for violent offenses.

• At a minimum, employees use the following criteria to screen female defendants/offenders for 

risk of sexual victimization: prior sexual victimization and the defendant/offender’s own perception of vulnerability.

• At a minimum, employees use the following criteria to screen female defendants/offenders for 

risk of being sexually abusive: prior acts of sexual abuse.
II. Prevention 31

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Are all defendants/offenders screened during intake to assess their risk of being 

sexually abused by other defendants/offenders and/or their risk of being sexually 

abusive toward other defendants/offenders?

(b) Does the facility provide employees with a written screening instrument tailored to 

male or female populations, depending on the makeup of the facility’s population?

(c) Do screening instruments for risk of sexual victimization for male defendants/

offenders include the following criteria?

 • Mental or physical disability

 • Young age

 • Slight build

 • Nonviolent history

 • Conviction for sex offenses against an adult or child

 • Sexual orientation of gay or bisexual

 • Gender nonconformance (e.g., transgender or intersex identity)

 • Prior sexual victimization

 • Defendant/offender’s own perception of vulnerability

(d) Do screening instruments for risk of being sexually abusive for male defendants/

offenders include the following criteria?

 • Prior acts of sexual abuse

 • Prior convictions for violent offenses 

(e) Do screening instruments for risk of sexual victimization for female defendants/

offenders include the following criteria?

 • Prior sexual victimization

 • Defendant/offender’s own perception of vulnerability

(f) Do screening instruments for risk of being sexually abusive for female defendants/

offenders include the following criteria?

 • Prior acts of sexual abuse

(g) Are screening instruments available to the public upon request?

(h) Are young defendants/offenders screening by medical or mental health practitioners, 

or if such practitioners are not available, is the screening conducted in private?

Discussion

There is currently a paucity of research on effective methods for screening for sexual abusers and victims in community corrections; however, new research may be forthcoming. 

The Commission strongly recommends that agency and facility heads consult emerging 

research periodically and tailor their screening instruments to the latest research as well 

as to the culture, makeup, and geographical regions of the facilities they operate. Agency 

heads should also consult their collected data (DC-2) to identify any patterns or similar characteristics among sexual abusers and victims in their facilities. In particular, at the time of 

publication of this body of standards, relatively little is known about predicting heightened 

risk for sexual victimization or abusiveness for female defendants/offenders. Similarly, less 

research has been undertaken to identify risk factors for engaging in sexual abuse for male 

defendants/offenders. The Commission urges researchers to examine these and other relatively unexplored areas, such as screening of non-English speakers and youth, to provide 

more guidance and direction to corrections practitioners. Further research is also needed to 
32 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

identify characteristics that may make male or female defendants/offenders more susceptible to sexual abuse by staff.

Defendants/offenders should be screened for risk of sexual victimization or abusiveness as 

soon as possible following their arrival at a facility. Employees must review information 

received with the defendant/offender as well as discussions with the defendant/offender. 

Equally important, however, is ensuring that employees review initial screening results 

on a periodic basis, depending on the length of stay of the defendant/offender. It is highly 

likely that more defendants/offenders will be identified as potentially vulnerable or abusive 

during the initial screening than are actually vulnerable or abusive. For example, there 

will be many male defendants/offenders with histories of violent felonies who are not actually prone to being sexually abusive. Therefore, the standard requires that screenings be 

reviewed during intake process and reviewed again if the defendant/offender remains at 

the facility for any significant length of time. The Commission recommends that employees 

review the screening results no later than 60 days after the initial screening and every 90 

days thereafter. 

When screening defendants/offenders for their risk of being sexually abused or abusive, 

the agency or facility must use the minimum criteria listed in the standard and determine 

how best to weigh those criteria, depending on the culture and makeup of the facility. The 

agency or facility will need to decide how to evaluate the impact of the passage of time on 

the predictive utility of prior convictions for sex offenses or other violent crimes and prior 

incidents of victimization or abusiveness. For example, a defendant/offender with a single 

incident of sexual victimization that occurred more than 20 years ago may not be at a 

greater risk for sexual victimization today. The agency or facility may find it helpful to use 

other criteria as well. As mentioned above, additional criteria should be developed based 

on emerging research and the facility’s culture, makeup, geographic region, and collected 

data. Another factor that may be useful for predicting high risk of sexual victimization 

for male defendants/offenders includes being in the racial minority within a given facility 

characterized by marked racial tension. Additionally, having effeminate features or mannerisms and not being street smart may also put male inmates at greater risk for sexual 

victimization. Finally, having an overtly aggressive attitude or intimidating attitude or having a particular gang affiliation may be associated with increased risk for sexually abusing 

other defendants/offenders.

When asking screening questions related to sexual orientation, it is critical that employees 

show sensitivity and discretion. It is equally important that employees tell defendants/

offenders before they begin the screening that they are not required to answer any of the 

questions if they would prefer not to. Not all defendants/offenders will feel comfortable 

answering questions about their sexual orientation, and employees should respect refusals 

to answer those questions and not press for answers. Defendants/offenders who openly 

identify as gay or bisexual should be asked if they feel that they need heightened protection 

while incarcerated. Defendants/offenders who are transgender or intersex should also be 

asked if they feel that they need heightened protection. Employees should carefully consider and endeavor to respect the views of gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex defendants/

offenders who request or do not want heightened protection.
II. Prevention 33

 Community Corrections Facilities 

SC-2 Use of screening information 

Employees use information from the risk screening (SC-1) to inform housing, bed, work, education, and program assignments. In many community corrections facilities, it is difficult, if not impossible, to keep defendants/offenders totally separate or segregated from each other. However, 

the facility can determine, based on the screening information, whether a particular defendant/

offender should receive greater supervision, should have more frequent contact with staff, or is 

more appropriately housed in some alternative type of placement. The facility makes individualized determinations about how to ensure the safety of each defendant/offender. Lesbian, gay, 

bisexual, transgender, or other gender-nonconforming defendants/offenders are not placed in 

particular housing assignments solely on the basis of their sexual orientation, genital status, or 

gender identity. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Do employees use information from the risk screening to inform housing, bed, work, 

education, and program assignments?

(b) If a defendant/offender discloses prior sexual victimization or abusiveness during 

intake screening, does staff provide appropriate referral for treatment based on his or 

her reasonable professional judgment?

(c) Does the facility make individualized determinations about how to ensure the safety 

of each defendant/offender, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or other 

gender-nonconforming defendants/offenders?

Discussion

For the sexual abuse screening information to be meaningful, it must be used to inform 

housing, bed, work, education, and program assignments for each defendant/offender. Because of the inherent risk in assigning defendants/offenders to rooms with multiple occupants, as is the case with many community corrections facilities, employees should consider 

the results of the screening with particular care and draw on appropriate professional common sense and judgment to determine appropriate pairings of individuals. Total separation or segregation of particular defendants/offenders may not be possible in community 

corrections facilities. The facility should determine whether a defendant/offender requires 

greater supervision or more frequent contact with staff. In some cases, the facility may need 

to determine that alternative placements will better ensure the defendant/offender’s safety. 

Under this standard, the facility will need to consider each defendant/offender on a case-bycase basis when determining the appropriate placements for housing, work, programs, and 

education, rather than using blanket policies based on particular elements of a defendant/

offender’s screening assessment. Preconceived notions, stereotypes, or bias should have no 

place in the housing decisions made for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other gender-nonconforming defendants/offenders. Additionally, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 

and other gender-nonconforming defendants/offenders should never be placed solely because of their sexual orientation, genital status, or gender identity. Given that many officials 

are particularly perplexed about how to house transgender defendants/offenders safely and 

properly, the Commission also strongly urges agencies or facilities to give careful thought 

and consideration to the placement of each transgender defendant/offender and not to automatically place transgender individuals in male or female housing based on their birth 

gender or current genital status.
34 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

If an agency or facility is responsible for the confinement of individuals under the age of 

18 or applicable age of majority within that jurisdiction, a strong effort should be made to 

house these individuals separately from adults. Although young defendants/offenders in 

general may be victimized more often, defendants/offenders under the age of 18 or applicable age of majority within that jurisdiction are not fully emotionally or physically developed 

and therefore may be particularly susceptible to abuse if housed with older defendants/

offenders.
III. DETECTION AND RESPONSE 

Reporting (RE)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

RE-1 Defendant/offender reporting

The agency or facility provides multiple internal ways for defendants/offenders to report easily, 

privately, and securely sexual abuse, retaliation by other defendants/offenders or staff for reporting sexual abuse, and staff neglect or violation of responsibilities that may have contributed to 

an incident of sexual abuse. The agency or facility also provides at least one way for defendants/

offenders to report the abuse to an outside pubic entity or office not affiliated with the agency 

that has agreed to receive reports and forward them to the agency or facility head (RP-2), except 

when a defendant/offender requests confidentiality. Staff accepts reports made verbally, in writing, anonymously, and from third parties and immediately puts into writing any verbal reports. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility provide multiple internal ways for defendants/offenders to 

report easily, privately, and securely sexual abuse, retaliation by other defendants/offenders or staff for reporting sexual abuse, and staff neglect or violation of responsibilities that may have contributed to an incident of sexual abuse (e.g., locked drop boxes 

in common areas for reports or requests; grievance procedures; sick-call systems; 

access to a central or headquarters office)? (Please attach documentation explaining 

the specific internal reporting mechanisms the agency or facility has in place.)

(b) Does the agency or facility provide at least one way for defendants/offenders to report 

sexual abuse to an outside public entity or office not affiliated with the agency or 

facility that has agreed to receive reports and forward them to the agency or facility 

head, except when the defendant/offender requests confidentiality (e.g., ombudsperson; outside law enforcement agency; inspector general’s office; attorney general’s 

office) (RP-2)? (Please attach documentation explaining the specific outside reporting 

mechanism(s) the agency or facility has made available to defendants/offenders.)

(c) Does staff accept reports made verbally, in writing, anonymously, and by third parties?

(d) Does staff immediately put into writing any verbal reports?

Discussion

The agency or facility should make reporting sexual abuse as easy, private, and secure as 

possible. The more the agency or facility demonstrates through policy, practice, and staff 

behaviors its commitment to protecting sexual abuse victims and punishing abusers, the 

more victims will feel safe coming forward. Although a potential increase in disclosures 

and investigations may initially tax resources, increased reporting may also signal that 

defendants/offenders are becoming more trustful of the system, which, in turn, may deter 

potential abusers from engaging in sexually abusive behaviors. Over time, the agency or 

facility’s initial investment in efforts to make reporting easier and to conduct thorough investigations will serve everyone’s interests. Victims will be better supported, abusers will 

be held accountable, and staff and defendants/offenders will ultimately be able to live and 

work in safer, more secure environments.

III. Detection and Response 35
36 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

The agency or facility should take seriously all reports of sexual abuse, regardless of the 

form or format in which they were conveyed. Although the agency or facility may choose to 

provide different mechanisms for internal reporting, including locked drop boxes in common areas for defendants/offenders to drop reports, requests, or grievances or dedicated 

phones or programmed phones with toll-free hotline numbers to internal investigative departments, staff should be prepared to accept and respond to all types of reports and manners of reporting. The method used to accept reports will vary by the size and composition 

of the community corrections facility and the methods of contact used by the defendant/

offender to connect with pretrial, probation, or parole officials. The Commission is not dictating one particular method of reporting.

The standard’s requirement that the agency or facility enable defendants/offenders to report 

to at least one outside public entity or office not affiliated with the agency or facility will 

signal to defendants/offenders that the agency’s or facility’s chief concern is making sure 

that defendants/offenders feel safe and comfortable reporting sexual abuse. If the agency 

or facility has established an MOU with an outside public entity or office that has agreed 

to accept and forward defendant/offender reports of sexual abuse, the outside public entity 

should be prepared to send those reports to the agency or facility head immediately upon receipt, unless the defendant/offender requests confidentiality (RP-2). If the agency or facility 

confines defendants/offenders under the age of 18 or applicable age of majority within that 

jurisdiction, or other defendants/offenders who fall under State or local vulnerable persons 

statutes, the agency or facility may allow such defendants/offenders to report directly to the 

designated State or local services agency that has the authority to conduct investigations 

into allegations of sexual abuse involving victims that fall under vulnerable persons statutes (RP-3). In addition to developing numerous avenues for receiving reports, staff should 

be trained and expected to take proactive steps to talk to defendants/offenders periodically 

about any unwanted sexual behaviors or threats they may be experiencing from other defendants/offenders or staff. 

 Community Corrections Facilities 

RE-2 Exhaustion of administrative remedies

Under agency or facility policy, a defendant/offender has exhausted his or her administrative 

remedies with regard to a claim of sexual abuse either (1) when the agency or facility makes a final 

decision on the merits of the report of abuse (regardless of whether the report was made by the 

defendant/offender, made by a third party, or forwarded from an outside official or office) or (2) 

when 90 days have passed since the report was made, whichever occurs sooner. A report of sexual abuse triggers the 90-day exhaustion period regardless of the length of time that has passed 

between the abuse and the report. A defendant/offender seeking immediate protection from 

imminent sexual abuse will be deemed to have exhausted his or her administrative remedies 48 

hours after notifying any agency or facility staff member of his or her need for protection.
Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does agency or facility policy reflect that a defendant/offender has exhausted

administrative remedies with regard to a claim of sexual abuse under the following 

circumstances?

 • When the agency or facility makes a final decision on the merits of the report of 

abuse (regardless of whether the report was made by the defendant/offender, made 

by a third party, or forwarded from an outside official or office) or

 • When 90 days have passed since the report was made, whichever occurs sooner

(b) Does agency or facility policy reflect that a defendant/offender seeking immediate 

protection from imminent sexual abuse has exhausted administrative remedies 48 

hours after notifying any agency or facility staff member of his or her need for

protection?

Discussion

Currently, under the Federal Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), correctional agencies are 

able to raise a defendant/offender’s “failure to exhaust administrative remedies” as an affirmative defense against a defendant/offender’s legal claims brought in Federal court. The 

definition of “prison” under PLRA includes facilities that “incarcerate or detain juveniles or 

adults accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of 

criminal law.” In addition, the definition of “prisoner” under the law includes “any person 

incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or 

adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of parole, 

probation, pretrial release, or a diversionary program.” 

The purpose of the exhaustion requirement in PLRA is to ensure that agencies or facilities 

have an opportunity to respond to a defendant/offender’s complaint before that defendant/

offender files a lawsuit. Agencies or facilities are free to determine the procedures by which 

a defendant/offender “exhausts administrative remedies” by policy. In practice, many agencies or facilities have adopted policies that require a defendant/offender to file a grievance 

within a relatively short timeframe after the incident of abuse and then to make multiple 

appeals of the agency’s or facility’s response within specific timeframes to satisfactorily exhaust administrative remedies. Policies that require defendants/offenders to navigate a complicated grievance procedure within a short time after the abuse can result in the dismissal 

of meritorious legal claims by victims of sexual abuse. Although the statute of limitations to 

file a lawsuit may be one year or two depending on the type of claim and the jurisdiction, 

defendants/offenders who fail to file a grievance within one or two weeks after being abused 

may be permanently barred from court for failing to “exhaust administrative remedies.” 

Victims of sexual abuse are particularly vulnerable to having their claims dismissed for 

this reason because the trauma of sexual abuse and fear of retaliation often prevent them 

from reporting the incident shortly after it occurs. Furthermore, because grievance procedures are generally not designed as the sole or primary method for reporting incidents of 

sexual abuse by defendants/offenders to staff, victims who do immediately report abuse to 

authorities may not realize they need to file a grievance as well to satisfy agency exhaustion 

requirements. For example, a victim might call the agency’s or facility’s sexual abuse reporting hotline immediately but fail to file a grievance within the short timeframe allowed and 

later be barred from bringing a valid legal claim because of that failure. 

III. Detection and Response 37
38 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

This standard recognizes agencies’ or facilities’ legitimate interest in having a reasonable opportunity to respond to notice of abuse before being required to defend themselves in court. It 

also recognizes that PREA’s goals are not furthered if defendants/offenders are deemed to have 

forfeited their ability to seek judicial redress for abuse because they have not reported the abuse 

within a set timeframe after it occurs. The standard requires agencies or facilities to adopt 

policies by which a defendant/offender is deemed to have exhausted his or her administrative 

remedies no later than 90 days after a report of sexual abuse is made and regardless of the time 

that has elapsed between the abuse and the report. Any report of sexual abuse should trigger 

a response by the agency or facility, including an investigation into the merits of the allegation 

(IN-1, IN-2), the provision of appropriate medical and mental health treatment (MM-1, MM-2), 

and efforts to protect the alleged victim and other defendants/offenders from retaliation and 

future abuse (OR-5). It is possible that the agency or facility will not have completed its investigation into the report within 90 days, but that is ample time within which the agency or facility 

can take appropriate steps to protect the defendant/offender and to demonstrate its efforts to 

find the truth for the purposes of defending against a lawsuit. 

Finally, the standard recognizes that there may be urgent, emergency situations when a defendant/offender seeks an immediate injunction from the court to provide protection from 

imminent harm. In such cases, the standard requires an exception to the 90-day waiting 

period. Because it is incumbent on the agency or facility to provide protection immediately 

to a defendant/offender who reports a risk of imminent harm, the agency shall deem the defendant/offender’s administrative remedies exhausted 48 hours after such a report is made 

to any agency or facility employee. A court can determine whether the defendant/offender’s request merits an injunction, but the defendant/offender seeking the court’s protection 

should not be required to wait more than 48 hours because the nature of such a request is 

urgent. If the agency or facility has in fact responded properly to the report or if the report 

was of such a nature that it did not warrant action on the part of the agency or facility, a 

court can make that determination at the time the injunction is sought.

 Community Corrections Facilities 

RE-3 Defendant/offender access to outside confidential support services 

The facility provides defendants/offenders with access to outside victim advocates for emotional support services related to sexual abuse. The facility provides such access by giving defendants/offenders the current mailing addresses and telephone numbers, including toll-free 

hotline numbers, of local, State, and/or national victim advocacy or rape crisis organizations 

and enabling reasonable communication between defendants/offenders and these organizations. The facility ensures that communications with such advocates are private, confidential, 

and privileged, to the extent allowable by Federal, State, and local law. The facility informs defendants/offenders, prior to giving them access, of the extent to which such communications 

will be private, confidential, and/or privileged.
Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the facility provide defendants/offenders with the current mailing addresses and 

telephone numbers, including toll-free hotline numbers, of local, State, and/or national 

victim advocacy or rape crisis organizations and enable reasonable communication 

between defendants/offenders and these organizations? (Please attach documentation explaining how the facility provides defendants/offenders with access to outside 

confidential support services related to sexual abuse.)

(b) Are defendants/offenders able to communicate with outside victim advocates

privately in settings in which conversations cannot be overheard?

(c) Does the facility explain to defendants/offenders, prior to giving them information 

related to outside support services, the rules governing privacy, confidentiality, and/or 

privilege that apply for disclosures of sexual abuse made to outside victim advocates, 

including any limits to confidentiality under relevant Federal, State, or local law?

Discussion

Victims of sexual abuse, whether confined or not, often require the support of an advocate. 

Working with these advocates, such as rape crisis counselors, is not only an essential part of 

treatment for some victims, but can also help victims overcome any reluctance to report the 

incident to the appropriate officials. Although some community corrections facilities may 

be large enough to have qualified mental health practitioners on staff who can treat sexual 

abuse victims, some victims may be reluctant to confide in those practitioners because they 

see them as part of the institution that failed to protect them from abuse. Other facilities may 

simply rely on referrals of defendants/offenders to outside practitioners once a defendant/

offender reports a problem. By giving defendants/offenders the option and information to 

communicate with outside advocates on their own, the facility will ensure that victims have 

the greatest access to necessary care. 

To meet the requirements of this standard, an agency or facility may need to enter an MOU 

with a community service provider and may find it useful to provide regular opportunities 

for defendants/offenders to meet face-to-face with advocates (RP-2). In addition to these 

opportunities, free hotlines that connect defendants/offenders to rape crisis service groups 

and/or other victim advocacy groups are encouraged. Facilities that have limited community resources to draw from should at a minimum provide defendants/offenders with contact 

information for regional and/or national human rights, advocacy, and/or counseling organizations. Telephone use to contact outside advocates and/or letters sent to service organizations should not be subject to any rules or restrictions governing telephone use or mail. 

Administrators need to make certain that defendants/offenders are able to access outside 

confidential support services as easily and as privately as possible. Defendants/offenders 

should never have to explain to staff members their reasons for wanting to speak or write to 

outside advocates before being allowed to communicate with those providers.

The Commission recognizes that in most jurisdictions, outside providers will be unable to 

provide truly confidential support services due to State or local mandatory child abuse reporting laws. In these jurisdictions, juveniles who have been victims of abuse in a facility or 

while under supervision should still have the opportunity to access outside support services 

if they do not feel comfortable using the services provided in house. 

III. Detection and Response 39
40 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

RE-4 Third-party reporting

The agency or facility receives and investigates all third-party reports of sexual abuse (IN-1). 

At the conclusion of the investigation, the agency or facility notifies in writing the thirdparty individual who reported the abuse and the defendant/offender named in the thirdparty report of the outcome of the investigation. The agency or facility distributes publicly 

information on how to report sexual abuse on behalf of a defendant/offender.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility receive and investigate all third-party reports of sexual 

abuse?

(b) At the conclusion of the investigation, does the agency or facility notify in writing the 

third-party individual who reported the abuse and the defendant/offender named in 

the third-party report of the outcome of the investigation?

(c) Does the agency or facility distribute publicly information on how to report sexual 

abuse on behalf of a defendant/offender?

Discussion

Information about how to report sexual abuse on behalf of a defendant/offender should be 

available in multiple languages and in a convenient, easily accessible format. Information 

may be made available by phone, on a Web site, as part of any preliminary information provided verbally to visitors, in brochures, in flyers, or on posters in visiting areas. Information 

should at a minimum be made available to family members. Regardless of how the agency 

or facility chooses to distribute the information, the information itself should convey: (1) the 

contact information for the agency or facility official, department, or unit responsible for 

receiving and responding to third-party allegations; (2) instructions for what information to 

include when reporting sexual abuse; (3) notice that the allegation will be discussed with 

the victim named in the report; (4) a statement explaining the allegation will be disclosed 

only to those who need to know to ensure victim safety and to investigate the allegation; 

and (5) notice that the agency or facility will inform the individual who reported the abuse 

of the outcome of the investigation. The agency or facility should periodically review and 

update, if necessary, the information distributed regarding third party reporting.

Official Response Following a Defendant/Offender 

Report (OR)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

OR-1 Staff and agency or facility head reporting duties

All staff members are required to report immediately and according to agency or facility policy 

any knowledge, suspicion, or information they receive regarding an incident of sexual abuse that 

occurred in a facility setting or while under supervision; retaliation against defendants/offenders 

or staff who reported abuse; and any staff neglect or violation of responsibilities that may have 

contributed to an incident of sexual abuse or retaliation. Apart from reporting to designated 
supervisors or officials, staff must not reveal any information related to a sexual abuse report 

to anyone other than those who need to know, as specified in agency or facility policy, to make 

treatment, investigation, and other security and management decisions. Unless otherwise precluded by Federal, State, or local law, staff medical and mental health practitioners are required 

to report sexual abuse and must inform defendants/offenders of their duty to report at the initiation of services. If the victim is under the age of 18 or applicable age of majority within that 

jurisdiction, or considered a vulnerable adult under a State or local vulnerable persons statute, 

staff must report the allegation to the designated State or local services agency under applicable 

mandatory reporting laws. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Has the agency or facility notified staff members that they are required to report 

immediately and according to agency or facility policy any knowledge, suspicion, or 

information they receive regarding an incident of sexual abuse that occurred in a 

facility setting or while under supervision, including any knowledge of retaliation 

against defendants/offenders or staff who reported abuse and any staff neglect or 

violation of responsibilities that may have contributed to an incident of sexual abuse 

or retaliation? 

(b) Has the agency or facility notified staff members that they are required to limit 

information related to any incident of sexual abuse to those who need to know, 

as specified in agency or facility policy, to make treatment, investigation, and other 

security and management decisions?

(c) Has the agency or facility notified staff medical and mental health practitioners of 

their reporting duties, including their duty to inform defendants/offenders of the 

practitioners’ duty to report at the initiation of services?

(d) If the victim is under the age of 18 or considered a vulnerable adult under a State or local 

vulnerable persons statute, does the agency or facility head report the allegation to the 

designated State or local services agency under applicable mandatory reporting laws?

Discussion

Attaining compliance with this standard will require that agency or facility leadership effectively conveys to staff members that they are mandatory reporters with no discretion 

to decide whether to report sexual abuse allegations or any other knowledge or suspicion 

of sexual abuse or harassment. Agency or facility leadership should make it clear through 

policy and practice that the agency or facility tolerates neither a staff code of silence nor the 

mishandling or inappropriate sharing of information (i.e., spreading rumors or conveying 

information to individuals who have no need to know), and staff should be trained on the 

difference between spreading rumors and proper reporting. Additionally, it is critical that 

all staff members understand exactly what, when, how, and to whom they are required to 

report, including whether their responsibilities differ based on the type of offense or the 

persons involved. The agency or facility head should know exactly how and to whom he or 

she is required to report if the incident involves a victim under the age of 18 or applicable 

age of majority within that jurisdiction, or a victim considered a vulnerable adult under a 

State or local vulnerable persons statute (e.g., statutes that address the mentally ill, mentally 

or physically disabled, or the elderly).

Unless otherwise precluded by Federal, State, or local law, the standard requires staff medical and mental health practitioners to report sexual abuse and to inform defendants/offenders of their duty to report at the initiation of services. Informing defendants/offenders of 

their duty to report at the initiation of services is critical so that defendants/offenders know 

up front what they can expect to be kept confidential and what they can expect will be 

III. Detection and Response 41
42 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

reported. Although the Commission recognizes that some medical and mental health practitioners may be reluctant to report because of fears that victims will not seek treatment, it 

nonetheless requires medical and mental health practitioners to report to protect the safety 

of the individual being abused or threatened with abuse. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

OR-2 Reporting to other agencies or facilities

When the agency or facility receives an allegation that a defendant/offender was sexually abused 

while in a community corrections facility or while under supervision, the head of the agency or 

facility where the report was made notifies in writing the head of the agency or facility where 

the alleged abuse occurred. The head of the agency or facility where the alleged abuse occurred 

ensures the allegation is investigated.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) When the agency or facility receives an allegation that a defendant/offender was

sexually abused while in a community corrections facility or while under supervision, 

does the head of the agency or facility where the report was made notify in writing 

the head of the agency or facility where the alleged abuse occurred?

(b) If the agency or facility head receives notice that a former defendant/offender has

alleged sexual abuse, does he or she ensure that the allegation is investigated?

Discussion

Defendants/offenders who have been sexually abused while confined at a lockup, jail, or 

prison or while housed in a community corrections facility may feel safer reporting the 

abuse once they are no longer housed at the facility where the abuse occurred. For example, 

a defendant/offender who was sexually abused at a jail may wait until he or she is transferred to a prison to report. Similarly, someone abused while confined in a State prison may 

choose to report once he or she is in the custody of a community corrections agency. The 

opposite may also occur. A defendant/offender who is abused while under the supervision 

of a pretrial, probation, or parole agency may not report the alleged abuse until he or she is 

housed in a prison, jail, or community corrections facility. The head of the agency or facility 

where the report is made needs to be prepared to notify the appropriate authorities immediately. By the same token, as required by the standard, the head of the agency or facility 

where the alleged abuse occurred must ensure that the allegation is investigated. This effort 

to communicate and share information across agencies and facilities should improve safety 

and security for all defendants/offenders and staff.

 Community Corrections Facilities 

OR-3 Staff first responder duties

Upon learning that a defendant/offender has alleged sexual abuse within a time period that still 

allows for the collection of physical evidence, the first facility staff member to respond to the 

report is required to (1) separate the alleged victim and abuser; (2) seal and preserve any crime 

scene(s); and (3) instruct the victim not to take any actions that could destroy physical evidence, 

including washing, brushing his or her teeth, changing his or her clothes, urinating, defecating, 

smoking, drinking, or eating. 
Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Has the facility notified staff that upon learning of an incident of sexual abuse that 

occurred within a time period that still allows for the collection of physical evidence, 

they are required to separate victims from abusers, seal and preserve any crime 

scene(s), and instruct victims not to wash, brush their teeth, change their clothes, 

urinate, defecate, smoke, drink, or eat?

(b) Has the facility notified staff members that upon learning of an incident of sexual 

abuse, they are required to instruct victims not to wash, brush their teeth, change 

their clothes, urinate, defecate, smoke, drink, or eat and then notify staff?

Discussion

In addition to reporting the abuse according to agency or facility policy, the first staff member who learns of a defendant/offender being sexually abused is responsible for ensuring 

that the victim is safe and any physical evidence is preserved until an investigator arrives. 

At the time of publication of this body of standards, the commonly accepted time limit for 

collecting physical evidence is 96 hours. To carry out their duties effectively, staff members 

will need to be able to counsel victims who may be in distress while maintaining security 

and control over the crime scene(s). 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

OR-4 Coordinated response 

All actions taken in response to an allegation of sexual abuse are coordinated among staff first 

responders, medical and mental health practitioners, investigators, and agency or facility leadership. The agency’s or facility’s coordinated response ensures that victims receive all necessary 

immediate and ongoing medical, mental health, and support services and that investigators are 

able to obtain usable evidence to substantiate allegations and hold perpetrators accountable. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Are all actions taken in response to an incident of sexual abuse coordinated among 

staff first responders, medical and mental health practitioners, investigators, and 

agency or facility leadership?

(b) Does the agency’s or facility’s coordinated response ensure that victims receive all 

necessary immediate and ongoing medical, mental health, and support services?

(c) Does the agency’s or facility’s coordinated response ensure that investigators are 

able to obtain usable evidence to substantiate allegations and hold perpetrators 

accountable?

Discussion

In the community, coordinated sexual assault response teams (SARTs) are recognized as a 

best practice for responding to incidents of rape and other sexual abuse because they enable 

key responders from the medical, advocacy, and law enforcement fields to coordinate their 

actions and share information, helping the victim receive the best care and providing the 

investigator with the best chance to find the perpetrator. SARTs are generally composed of 

representatives from the medical and mental health fields, victim advocacy groups (usually 

from local or regional rape crisis centers), and law enforcement agencies. 

Although some community corrections agencies or facilities already use some version of 

a SART or specialized first response team, or they participate in an existing specialized 

III. Detection and Response 43
44 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

community response team, the Commission recognizes that not all agencies are equipped 

to organize a specialized team or spearhead a community SART. Particularly in the community corrections arena, agencies or facilities may not have individuals working in each 

of these subject areas on staff. Rather, they must rely on individuals in the community who 

provide these resources. The Commission urges those agencies or facilities to work toward 

developing such a team by working with community or regional law enforcement agencies, 

outside medical and mental health providers, and sexual abuse advocacy groups to establish a coordinated plan to address victims’ needs and improve sexual abuse investigation 

outcomes. At the time of publication of these standards, the Commission recommends that 

agencies consult the 2004 U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women 

publication “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations, Adults/

Adolescents” for guidance and ideas on developing an approach to a coordinated response 

to sexual abuse.

Regardless of whether or not the agency or facility uses a designated response team or 

participates in a community SART, the standard requires that all actions taken in response 

to an allegation of sexual abuse be coordinated among staff first responders, medical and 

mental health practitioners, investigators, and facility leadership. To ensure the best treatment for victims and the greatest likelihood of holding perpetrators accountable, a number 

of actions should be coordinated, including: (1) assessing the victim’s acute medical needs 

to determine if he or she needs to be stabilized and/or treated for injuries, conditions, or 

potential risks; (2) informing the victim of his or her rights under relevant Federal and/or 

State crime victims’ rights laws; (3) giving the victim the option of undergoing a forensic 

medical exam for the purpose of collecting and documenting physical evidence of abuse; 

(4) having a victim advocate available to the defendant/offender victim during the forensic 

medical exam; (5) providing crisis intervention counseling for the victim before and after 

the forensic medical exam; (6) interviewing victims and witnesses; (7) collecting evidence; 

and (8) providing for any special needs a victim might have.

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

OR-5 Agency or facility protection against retaliation 

The agency or facility protects all defendants/offenders and staff who report sexual abuse or 

cooperate with sexual abuse investigations from retaliation by other defendants/offenders or 

staff. The agency or facility employs multiple protection measures, including housing changes or 

transfers for defendant/offender victims or abusers, removal of alleged staff or defendant/offender abusers from contact with victims, and emotional support services for defendants/offenders 

or staff who fear retaliation for reporting sexual abuse or cooperating with investigations. The 

agency or facility monitors the conduct and/or treatment of defendants/offenders or staff who 

have reported sexual abuse or cooperated with investigations, including any defendant/offender 

disciplinary reports, housing changes, or program changes, for at least 90 days following their 

report or cooperation to assess changes that may suggest possible retaliation by defendants/

offenders or staff. The agency or facility discusses any changes with the appropriate defendant/

offender or staff member as part of its efforts to determine if retaliation is taking place and, when 

confirmed, immediately takes steps to protect the defendant/offender or staff member.
Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility employ the following measures to protect defendants/

offenders and staff from retaliation for reporting sexual abuse?

 • Housing changes or transfers for defendant/offender victims or abusers

 • Removal of alleged staff or defendant/offender abusers from contact with victims

 • Employee assistance services or other resources for staff who may need

psychological or emotional support

 • Available support services for defendants/offenders who may need psychological

or emotional support

(b) Does the agency or facility monitor the conduct and/or treatment of defendants/

offenders or staff who have reported sexual abuse or cooperated with investigations, 

including any defendant/offender disciplinary reports, housing changes, or program 

changes, for at least 90 days following their report or cooperation to see assess 

changes that may suggest possible retaliation by defendants/offenders or staff?

(c) When changes have been identified, does the agency or facility discuss those changes 

with the appropriate defendant/offender or staff member as part of its efforts to 

determine if retaliation is taking place?

(d) When retaliation has been confirmed, does the agency or facility immediately take 

steps to protect the defendant/offender or staff member?

Discussion

Fear of retaliation, such as being subjected to harsh or hostile conditions, being attacked by 

other defendants/offenders, or suffering harassment from staff, prevents many defendants/

offenders and staff from reporting sexual abuse and impedes the ability of the agency or 

facility to protect the safety and security of its operations. Retaliation can take many forms. 

For example, one or more defendants/offenders may assault another defendant/offender for 

“snitching.” An accused staff member or his or her staff allies may suddenly start giving 

disciplinary tickets to the defendant/offender who made the allegation. A staff member who 

reports may find that he or she is being snubbed or isolated by other staff. The agency or 

facility should use every means possible, from information conveyed in training sessions to 

strict reporting policies to strong disciplinary sanctions for retaliation, to discourage retaliation in any form.

The agency or facility should be alert to the possibility of retaliation from the outset and 

should initiate and maintain protective measures for as long as it deems necessary. The 

agency or facility will have to weigh a number of circumstances when deciding how best to 

protect defendants/offenders and staff members who report sexual abuse. When collective 

bargaining agreements limit an agency’s or facility’s ability to remove accused staff members from contact positions with defendants/offenders who have alleged staff-on-defendant/

offender sexual abuse or staff-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment, the agency or facility should develop and implement alternative protective measures. In general, agencies or 

facilities should try to secure collective bargaining agreements that do not limit their ability 

to protect defendants/offenders or staff from retaliation.

The agency’s or facility’s protective measures can be adjusted throughout the investigation 

as necessary, but this does not obviate the agency’s or facility’s obligation to take immediate 

and continuing steps to guard against retaliation. 

III. Detection and Response 45
46 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Investigations (IN)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

IN-1 Duty to investigate 

The agency or facility investigates all allegations of sexual abuse, including third-party and anonymous reports, and notifies victims and/or other complainants in writing of investigation outcomes and any disciplinary or criminal sanctions, regardless of the source of the allegation. All 

investigations are carried through to completion, regardless of whether the alleged abuser or 

victim remains at the facility or under supervision. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility investigate all allegations of sexual abuse from all sources, 

including third-party and anonymous reports?

(b) Does the agency or facility notify victims and/or other complainants in writing of 

investigation outcomes and any disciplinary or criminal sanctions?

(c) Are all investigations carried through to completion, regardless of whether the alleged 

abuser or victim remains at the facility or under supervision?

Discussion

One of the challenges agencies and facilities face when investigating allegations of sexual 

abuse is defendant/offender and staff reluctance to report the abuse, whether as victims or 

as witnesses. This reluctance to report leads to delayed reporting, changed stories, noncooperation, and difficulties obtaining physical evidence. By investigating all allegations of 

sexual abuse and carrying those investigations through to completion, agencies or facilities 

send a strong message that sexual abuse is taken seriously and will not be tolerated, thereby 

encouraging all defendants/offenders to report.

Carrying investigations through to completion means making sure that an investigation 

continues even if an alleged staff perpetrator transfers, resigns, or retires or if an alleged defendant/offender perpetrator or victim is transferred or released from a community corrections facility or supervision during an investigation. Consistent application of these practices 

helps assure the reporting party and others who may be considering reporting sexual abuse 

or cooperating with the investigation that reports and cooperation will not be fruitless. This 

assurance is critical given the risks often inherent to reporting sexual abuse and cooperating in an investigation of sexual abuse, both for staff and defendants/offenders. Continuing 

investigations after the alleged perpetrator has left the facility or agency supervision helps 

ensure that an abuser does not escape accountability and will not remain undetected in another facility or in another jurisdiction and thus can be critical to preventing further abuse. 

This should be an important risk management consideration for any agency or facility. 

This standard requires that victims and complainants be notified of the final investigative 

outcome (e.g., unfounded/unsubstantiated/substantiated) and any disciplinary or criminal 

sanctions imposed pursuant to a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse. When the investigative outcome is modified pursuant to review, appeal, or arbitration after notification has 

taken place, the victim/complainant should be notified of the modified outcome. 
The “source” of an allegation of sexual abuse that triggers the duty to investigate may come 

in the form of evidence obtained during the investigation of a violent incident, or even death, 

within the facility that does not appear to have any connection to sexual abuse. Facilities 

should be attuned to the fact that sexual abuse may be the motivating factor behind seemingly unrelated assaults, suicides, and homicides within their facilities. Forensic autopsies 

should be employed whenever possible to determine whether sexual abuse occurred prior to 

the act of violence or suicide being investigated. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

IN-2 Criminal and administrative agency or facility investigations 

Agency or facility investigations into allegations of sexual abuse are prompt, thorough, objective, 

and conducted by investigators who have received special training in sexual abuse investigations 

(TR-4). When outside agencies investigate sexual abuse, the agency or facility has a duty to keep 

abreast of the investigation and cooperate with outside investigators (RP-3). Investigations include the following elements:

• Investigations are initiated and completed within the timeframes established by the

highest-ranking official, and the highest-ranking official approves the final investigative report. 

• Investigators gather direct and circumstantial evidence, including physical and DNA evidence when available; interview alleged victims, suspected perpetrators, and witnesses; and 

review prior complaints and reports of sexual abuse involving the suspected perpetrator. 

• When the quality of evidence appears to support criminal prosecution, prosecutors are 

contacted to determine whether compelled interviews may be an obstacle for subsequent 

criminal prosecution. 

• Investigative findings are based on an analysis of the evidence gathered and a determination 

of its probative value.

• The credibility of a victim, suspect, or witness is assessed on an individual basis and is not 

determined by the person’s status as defendant/offender or staff. 

• Investigations include an effort to determine whether staff negligence or collusion enabled 

the abuse to occur. 

• Administrative investigations are documented in written reports that include a description 

of the physical and testimonial evidence and the reasoning behind credibility assessments. 

• Criminal investigations are documented in a written report that contains a thorough description of physical, testimonial, and documentary evidence and provides a proposed list 

of exhibits. 

• Substantiated allegations of conduct that appear to be criminal are referred for prosecution. 

III. Detection and Response 47
48 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Are investigations of allegations of sexual abuse conducted only by investigators who 

have received special training in sexual abuse investigations (TR-4)?

(b) When outside agencies investigate sexual abuse, does the agency or facility keep 

abreast of the investigation and cooperate with outside investigators (RP-3)?

(c) Are investigations of allegations of sexual abuse initiated and completed within 

prompt timeframes established by the agency or facility? 

(d) Do investigations include a review of all direct and circumstantial evidence, including 

physical and DNA evidence when available; interviews of alleged victims, suspected 

perpetrators, and witnesses; and prior complaints and reports of sexual abuse or 

misconduct involving the suspected perpetrator? 

(e) Does the agency or facility contact prosecutors when the quality of evidence appears 

to support criminal prosecution to determine whether compelled interviews may be 

an obstacle for subsequent criminal prosecution?

(f) Are investigative findings based on the analysis of the evidence gathered and a 

determination of its probative value?

(g) Do investigators assess the credibility of a victim, suspect, or witness on an 

individualized basis, rather than using the person’s status as defendant/offender or 

staff to assess credibility? 

(h) Do investigations include an effort to determine whether staff negligence or collusion 

enabled the abuse to occur?

(i) Are administrative investigations documented in written reports that include a 

description of the physical and testimonial evidence and the reasoning behind 

credibility assessments?

(j) Are criminal investigations documented in a written report that contains a thorough 

description of physical, testimonial, and documentary evidence and provides a 

proposed list of exhibits?

(k) Are substantiated allegations of conduct that appear to be criminal referred for 

prosecution?

Discussion

This standard addresses both criminal and administrative investigations. There are significant differences in how each type of investigation is conducted, and it is critically important 

to keep criminal and administrative investigations separate. However, certain elements are 

important to both types of investigation, and the standard addresses these elements.

The standard requires that effective investigations be initiated and completed promptly so 

that physical evidence is available and usable before memories have faded. Prompt investigations also give credence to an agency’s or facility’s zero-tolerance commitment to end 

sexual abuse. Prompt investigations improve safety and morale by ensuring that wrongly 

accused suspects are exonerated as quickly as possible and that abusers are detected and 

removed and/or disciplined as quickly as possible. Agencies or facilities should ensure that 

established timelines provide sufficient time for investigators to complete the investigation and for the review process to be completed. However, investigations and their reviews 

should be completed within the constraints imposed by statutes of limitation or terms and 

conditions of collective bargaining agreements to ensure that the facility has the ability to 

impose discipline when allegations are substantiated.

This standard also reflects the importance of investigations being conducted by investigators with the skills, objectivity, and sensitivity to resolve allegations credibly and with 
well-documented evidence. As the standard reflects, investigators must always be trained in 

conducting sexual abuse investigations (TR-4). 

In cases of alleged staff-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse or harassment, the agency or 

facility will need to make extra efforts to ensure that those investigations are objective and 

thorough and should consider using outside investigators whenever possible to ensure the 

appearance as well as the reality of impartiality. 

Because sexual abuse often has no witnesses and does not leave visible injury, investigators 

must be assiduous in searching out other kinds of direct and circumstantial evidence. To be 

successful, this requirement, like the other requirements of this standard, will need to be 

bolstered by investigator training and strong facility policies. 

The type of direct and circumstantial evidence that can be gathered and analyzed will 

vary depending on the nature of the allegation. When forced intercourse or similar abuse 

is alleged, for example, properly conducted forensic exams may yield DNA evidence. When 

staff-defendant/offender relationships are alleged, investigators should search for potentially 

corroborating evidence such as telephone records, gifts, letters, and similar items. Investigators should also conduct a review of prior complaints of sexual abuse as well as disciplinary 

findings in those cases—including from other facilities or jurisdictions, whenever possible—

as such information may suggest repeated patterns of behavior that bear on the credibility 

of the suspected abuser. Unless State law specifies otherwise, agencies or facilities should 

maintain those records for the duration of the defendant/offender’s sentence or staff member’s employment. 

Credibility assessments play an important role in the investigation of sexual abuse, as in any 

other investigation, and particularly so when there is no physical evidence. Properly trained 

investigators and agency officials must assess the truthfulness of alleged victims, suspected 

abusers and witnesses (if there are any), based on a careful consideration of individual factors pertinent to each person (e.g., his or her possible motivations, opportunity, prior history 

of truthfulness, consistency of statements, etc.). Assumptions about truthfulness should not 

be based simply on the fact that a person is a defendant/offender or member of the staff. 

The Commission especially cautions against automatically believing staff and disbelieving 

defendants/offenders when their statements contradict each other. 

As this standard reflects, an important aspect of investigations of sexual abuse allegations is 

determining whether any staff negligence or collusion may have played a role in facilitating 

or causing the sexual abuse. This inquiry is critical to preventing future sexual abuse and 

is an important risk management tool for agencies or facilities. 

As do several other standards, this standard recognizes the importance of coordinating 

with prosecuting authorities in cases involving sexual abuse allegations. This standard does 

not advocate delaying the initiation of the administration investigation until the decision 

of whether to prosecute has been made. However, to avoid compromising criminal investigations, investigators must contact prosecuting authorities before taking any compelled 

statements of subjects in potentially criminal cases. Agencies or facilities also must refer 

criminal cases for prosecution whenever the evidence indicates that the abuse appears to 

be criminal.

III. Detection and Response 49
50 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

IN-3 Evidence standard for administrative investigations

Allegations of sexual abuse are substantiated if supported by a preponderance of the evidence or 

a lesser standard if allowed under agency or facility policy or State law. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Are allegations of sexual abuse substantiated if supported by a preponderance of the 

evidence or a lesser standard if allowed under agency or facility policy or State law?

Discussion

The goal of this standard is to ensure that the agency or facility uses a standard of proof that 

is fair to all parties and appropriate for administrative action. This standard of proof applies 

to both staff administrative hearings as well as defendant/offender disciplinary hearings 

and requires investigators to use the preponderance of the evidence standard or a lesser 

standard if allowed by agency or facility policy or State law. The preponderance of the evidence standard is commonly used in administrative investigations as well as in civil suits 

involving sexual abuse. The preponderance of the evidence standard requires that an allegation be substantiated when the evidence shows that it is more likely than not that the alleged 

abuse occurred. Administrative cases do not require that allegations be proven beyond a 

reasonable doubt. Some agencies or facilities may establish lower thresholds for substantiating allegations of sexual abuse. This standard does not require that such agencies or facilities raise the threshold to the preponderance of evidence standard if a lesser standard is allowed under agency or facility policy or State law. Some jurisdictions may use, for example, 

a threshold of “some evidence,” which is allowable under this standard.

When available evidence is insufficient to substantiate an allegation, it may also be insufficient to prove that the alleged abuse did not occur. Such allegations may be determined 

to be unsubstantiated, but cannot properly be categorized as unfounded. Where there are 

numerous unfounded allegations in an agency or facility, administrators may want to review the quality of the investigations and closely scrutinize policies and protocols because 

numerous unfounded incidents may indicate problems with the way investigations are being conducted or reveal unknown incidents that actually did occur. 

Discipline (DI)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

DI-1 Disciplinary sanctions for staff

Staff is subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including termination when staff has violated 

agency or facility sexual abuse policies. The presumptive disciplinary sanction for staff members 

who have engaged in sexually abusive contact or penetration is termination. This presumption 

does not limit agency or facility discretion to impose termination for other sexual abuse policy 

violations. All terminations for violations of agency or facility sexual abuse policies are to be reported to law enforcement agencies and any relevant licensing bodies. 
Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) When staff has violated agency or facility sexual abuse policies, has the staff member 

received sanctions up to and including termination?

(b) Do the disciplinary sanctions imposed indicate that the presumptive disciplinary 

sanction for staff who has engaged in sexually abusive contact or penetration is 

termination? 

(c) Does the agency or facility report to law enforcement agencies and any relevant 

licensing bodies all individuals terminated by the agency or facility for violating agency 

or facility sexual abuse policies?

Discussion

Imposing significant disciplinary sanctions for sexual abuse is a critical component of communicating an agency’s or facility’s zero tolerance of sexual abuse and developing a culture of safety and accountability. The goal of this standard is to ensure fair and consistent 

accountability for staff members who have violated agency or facility sexual abuse policies and procedures, regardless of whether they are found guilty in criminal proceedings. 

Violations that require disciplinary sanctions pursuant to this standard include engaging 

in actual or attempted abuse or harassment, failing to report an incident of sexual abuse, 

failing to limit information received about an allegation to those who need to know, failing 

to cooperate with a sexual abuse investigation, engaging in retaliation against defendants/

offenders or staff who report abuse, and failing to follow any other agency or facility policy 

regarding sexual abuse in which staff was trained. 

Disciplinary hearings for adjudicating allegations of attempted or actual staff-on-defendant/

offender sexual abuse or staff-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment should be fair, and 

sanctions should be proportional to the nature and circumstances of the accused staff member’s conduct, his or her disciplinary history, and the sanctions meted out for comparable 

offenses by other staff with similar histories. Sanctions may entail training and counseling. 

The sanctions should be sufficiently serious in all cases to communicate to all staff and defendants/offenders the agency’s or facility’s refusal to tolerate sexual abuse or any conduct 

that impedes efforts to eliminate it. 

This standard requires that termination be the “presumptive” but not the mandatory sanction for certain types of sexual abuse in recognition of the fact that disciplinary sanctions 

must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Establishing termination as a presumption 

places a heavy burden on the staff person found to have committed the abuse to demonstrate why termination is not the appropriate sanction. This presumption also requires that 

termination should be the rule for the referenced types of sexual abuse, with exceptions 

made only in extraordinary circumstances. As the standard reflects, although termination 

is not the presumption for all types of sexual abuse, it may be the appropriate sanction for 

instances of sexual abuse less severe than sexually abusive contact or penetration. 

This standard is not meant to increase the employment rights of staff who are at-will

employees. 

III. Detection and Response 51
52 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

DI-2 Disciplinary sanctions for defendants/offenders

Defendants/offenders are subject to disciplinary sanctions pursuant to a formal disciplinary 

process following an administrative ruling that the defendant/offender engaged in defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse or following a criminal finding of guilt 

for defendant/offender-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse. Sanctions are commensurate 

with the nature and circumstances of the abuse committed, the defendant/offender’s disciplinary history, and the sanctions meted out for comparable offenses by other defendants/

offenders with similar histories. The disciplinary process must consider whether a defendant/offender’s mental disabilities or mental illness contributed to his or her behavior when 

determining what type of sanction, if any, should be imposed. Possible sanctions can include 

discipline within the community corrections facility, new criminal charges, or referral to 

authorities who may change conditions of a defendant/offender’s release status in the community. Sanctions may also include interventions designed to address and correct underlying reasons or motivation for the abuse, such as requiring the offending defendant/offender 

to participate in therapy, counseling, or other programs. Sanctions and/or interventions for 

young defendants/offenders must also take into account the social, sexual, emotional, and 

cognitive development of the defendant/offender.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) When there has been an administrative ruling of defendant/offender-on-defendant/

offender sexual abuse or a criminal finding of guilt for defendant/offender-ondefendant/offender sexual abuse, is the defendant/offender perpetrator subject to

disciplinary sanctions that are commensurate with the nature of the abuse

committed, the defendant/offender’s disciplinary history, and sanctions meted out

for comparable offenses by other defendants/offenders with similar histories? 

(b) Do the possible sanctions include discipline within the community corrections facility, 

new criminal charges, or referral to authorities who may change conditions of a

defendant/offender’s release status in the community? 

(c) Does the disciplinary process include consideration of any mental disabilities or 

mental illness that may have contributed to the abuse in determining the appropriate 

disciplinary sanction?

(d) Do possible sanctions include interventions designed to address and correct

underlying reasons or motivation for the abuse, such as therapy, counseling, or

other programs?

(e) Do sanctions and/or interventions for young defendants/offenders also take into 

account the social, sexual, emotional, and cognitive development of the defendant/

offender?

Discussion

Holding defendants/offenders accountable for sexually abusing other defendants/offenders 

is essential to deter abuse and demonstrate to defendants/offenders and staff that the agency 

or facility takes seriously its zero-tolerance policy. This standard recognizes that defendant/

offender accountability and the likely reduction in recidivism may be best achieved by using various kinds of sanctions, including not just punitive ones (e.g., loss of privileges) but 

positive interventions that may help a defendant/offender learn to better control his or her 

own behavior (e.g., counseling, participation in group programs, or other therapeutic interventions). All sanctions and interventions should send a clear message that the agency or 

facility does not tolerate sexual abuse of any sort. 
The Commission strongly urges agencies or facilities to refrain from imposing disciplinary sanctions on defendants/offenders solely because they have participated in apparently 

consensual sex or romantic relationships with staff. Disciplinary sanctions for such defendants/offenders will discourage them from reporting abuse. Additionally, some defendants/

offenders may fail to report abuse because of larger safety concerns in the facility and 

therefore should not be punished for concealing sexual activity. Staff should always be held 

responsible for such abuse. On the other hand, the Commission recognizes that defendants/

offenders may engage in relationships with staff to obtain contraband or break other facility rules without being punished. The Commission believes defendants/offenders should 

be held responsible for such other rules violations, but not for the sexual relationship that 

allowed for such violations. 

Appropriate interventions for young defendants/offenders should take into consideration the 

normal course of adolescent psychosocial and sexual development, which often includes 

periods of increased sexual desires, sexual experimentation, and masturbation. Young defendants/offenders will experience numerous physiological and emotional changes during 

their period of confinement or supervision, including physical maturation and development, 

an increase in hormone levels, and an increased desire to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, young defendants/offenders may engage in masturbation or self-experimentation, 

and such actions should not be subject to disciplinary sanctions unless they purposefully 

occur in front of staff, are directed toward other defendants/offenders, or are otherwise disruptive in nature. Direct training on adolescent development will enable staff to understand 

and better differentiate normal adolescent experimental behavior from sexually aggressive 

and dangerous behavior (TR-1).

Medical and Mental Health Care (MM)

 Community Corrections Facilities 

MM-1 Access to emergency medical and mental health services

Victims of sexual abuse have timely, unimpeded access to emergency medical treatment and 

crisis intervention services, the nature and scope of which are determined by medical and mental 

health practitioners according to their professional judgment. Treatment services must be provided free of charge to the victim and regardless of whether the victim names the abuser. If the 

community corrections facility does not have medical or mental health practitioners or they are 

not on duty at the time a report of recent abuse is made, staff first responders take preliminary 

steps to protect the victim (OR-3) and immediately notify appropriate staff or community medical and mental health practitioners. 

III. Detection and Response 53
54 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Do defendants/offenders have timely, unimpeded access to emergency medical treatment and crisis intervention services, the nature and scope of which are determined 

by medical and mental health practitioners according to their professional judgment?

(b) Are treatment services provided free of charge to the victim?

(c) Are treatment services provided regardless of whether the victim names the abuser?

(d) If there are no qualified staff medical or mental health practitioners or they are not on 

duty at the time a report is made, do staff first responders take preliminary steps to 

protect the victim (OR-3) and immediately notify the appropriate staff or community 

medical and mental health practitioners?

Discussion

Under this standard, the facility is required to provide emergency medical treatment and 

crisis intervention services free of charge to victims of sexual abuse. Such services may 

include, but are not limited to: (1) assessing the victim’s acute medical and mental health 

needs as soon as possible; (2) obtaining consent for treatment from the victim, unless the 

victim is under 18 or applicable age of majority within that jurisdiction; (3) treating the 

victim’s acute medical and mental health needs as soon as possible; (4) documenting the 

victim’s acute medical and mental health needs and treatment provided as soon as possible; 

(5) providing support and crisis intervention services; and (6) providing access to a forensic 

medical exam and, if the victim agrees to an exam, ensuring facility protocol is followed 

whenever there may be physical evidence of sexual abuse (RP-1).

The standard’s requirement that medical and mental health services be provided even when 

the victim refuses to name the abuser means that victims must be able to meet with medical or mental health practitioners without having to disclose details of the abuse to a staff 

member. As such, facilities may need to adapt their sick call policies to allow defendants/

offenders to access medical and mental health care practitioners without having to describe 

their victimization.

 Community Corrections Facilities 

MM-2 Ongoing medical and mental health care for sexual abuse victims and abusers

The facility provides ongoing medical and/or mental health evaluation and treatment to all 

known victims of sexual abuse. The evaluation and treatment of sexual abuse victims must include appropriate follow-up services, treatment plans, and, when necessary, referrals for continued care following their release from a community corrections facility. The level of medical and 

mental health care provided to defendant/offender victims must match the community level of 

care generally accepted by the medical and mental health professional communities. The facility 

conducts a mental health evaluation of all known abusers and provides treatment, as deemed 

necessary by qualified mental health practitioners.
Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the facility provide ongoing medical and/or mental health evaluation and treatment to all known victims of sexual abuse?

(b) Does the evaluation and treatment of victims include the following?

 • Appropriate follow-up services

 • Treatment plans

 • When necessary, referrals for continued care for sexual abuse victims following their 

release from a community corrections facility

(c) Does the level of medical and mental health care provided to defendant/offender 

victims match the level of care generally accepted by the medical and mental health 

professional communities?

(d) Does the facility conduct a mental health evaluation of all known abusers?

(e) Does the facility provide treatment for abusers, as deemed necessary by qualified 

mental health practitioners?

Discussion

Victims of sexual abuse can experience a range of physical injuries and emotional reactions, 

even long after the abuse has occurred, that require medical or mental health attention. As 

required by this standard, the facility must be able to ensure that all victims receive the 

appropriate medical and/or mental health services recommended by qualified practitioners. 

Follow-up evaluations and assessments may include the following actions: (1) reviewing any 

medical and mental health treatment provided immediately following the incident, including whether a forensic medical exam was performed; (2) diagnosing any lingering acute 

or nonacute physical injuries, including oral trauma; and (3) assessing the psychological 

impact of the victimization, including the risk of suicide or self-harm and any resulting 

mental health treatment needs. These follow-up evaluations and assessments will enable 

mental health and medical practitioners to determine and provide the most appropriate 

treatment for the defendant/offender, which could include mental health treatment, medical 

treatment, or both. Reviewing and adjusting victim treatment plans at regular, clinically appropriate intervals will allow the agency to provide the most comprehensive and appropriate 

care for as long as treatment is required. Most community corrections facility will not have 

medical or mental health practitioners on staff and will need to refer defendants/offenders to 

community provides to obtain these services. The requirement that facilities provide these 

services does not mean they must provide them in-house. 

Victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, whether recent or historical, are at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Regardless of whether a defendant/offender has accepted prevention or treatment for STIs, medical practitioners ought to offer and 

strongly encourage him or her to be tested for HIV and viral hepatitis six to eight weeks 

following the sexual abuse.

In accordance with this standard’s requirement to provide victims with the level of care generally accepted in the medical and mental health care professional communities, if there has 

been vaginal penetration, female victims who have been recently abused should be offered 

pregnancy tests at the time of the medical evaluation and, if the test is negative, should be 

offered retesting approximately six weeks thereafter. Victims who have positive tests should 

receive counseling and have access to all pregnancy-related medical services that are lawful 

in the community. 

III. Detection and Response 55
56 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Additionally, this standard requires mental health evaluations and treatment, when appropriate, of all known abusers. Mental health practitioners may find that ongoing mental 

health treatment, including counseling, group programs, or other therapeutic interventions, 

may be beneficial to abusers. Providing mental health treatment to abusers may help them 

develop better control over their actions and improve their conduct; in doing so, such treatment may help reduce the likelihood of recidivism and thereby improve facility safety. As 

noted in the standard, the facility’s mental health practitioners must use their professional 

judgment to determine the appropriate treatment and services for individuals with a recent 

or previous history of sexual abusiveness.

Defendants/offenders over the age of 18 have the right to refuse medical and/or mental 

health care after receiving counseling about the potential value of the services they would 

receive. As a risk management measure, the facility should require defendants/offenders to 

sign refusals of care and document such refusals in the defendant/offender’s medical file.
IV. MONITORING

Data Collection and Review (DC)

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

DC-1 Sexual abuse incident reviews 

The agency or facility treats all instances of sexual abuse as critical incidents to be examined 

by a team of upper management officials, with input from line supervisors, investigators, and 

medical/mental health practitioners. The review team evaluates each incident of sexual abuse to 

identify any policy, training, or other issues related to the incident that indicate a need to change 

policy or practice to better prevent, detect, and/or respond to incidents of sexual abuse. The 

review team also considers whether incidents were motivated by racial or other group dynamics. When incidents are determined to be motivated by racial or other group dynamics, upper 

management officials immediately notify the agency or facility head and begin taking steps to 

rectify those underlying problems. The sexual abuse incident review takes place at the conclusion of every sexual abuse investigation, unless the allegation was determined to be unfounded. 

The review team prepares a report of its findings and recommendations for improvement and 

submits it to the agency or facility head. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does a team of upper management officials, with input from line supervisors, investigators, and medical/mental health practitioners, review the details of each incident 

of sexual abuse following every sexual abuse investigation, unless the allegation was 

determined to be unfounded? 

(b) Does the team use the review of each incident of sexual abuse to identify any policy, 

training, or other issues related to the incident that indicate a need to change policy 

or practice to better prevent, detect, and/or respond to incidents of sexual abuse?

(c) Does the review team consider whether incidents were motivated by racial dynamics 

or any existing racial tensions?

(d) Where incidents are determined to be motivated by racial dynamics or tensions, do 

upper management officials immediately notify the agency or facility head and begin 

taking steps to rectify those underlying problems?

(e) Does the review team prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for

improvement and submit it to the agency or facility head?

Discussion

Sexual abuse incident reviews provide the agency or facility with the opportunity to identify 

policies or practices that may have contributed to or failed to prevent sexual abuse as well 

as any deficiencies in the organization’s response. By examining prevention planning and 

response efforts following the occurrence of sexual abuse, the organization can prevent 

future incidents by making the necessary changes to policies or practices that endangered 

staff and defendants/offenders in the past. 

Comprehensive sexual abuse incident reviews should include the following: (1) an analysis 

of any security failures that may have contributed to the incident; (2) an examination of the 

timeliness and quality of the response; (3) the various interventions provided to the victim 

IV. Monitoring 57
58 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

and/or perpetrator, including medical and mental health care; and (4) the quality of the 

administrative and/or criminal investigation. Additionally, the review team should determine whether victim(s) or witness(es) faced any obstacles to prompt and safe reporting of 

the incident. Finally, the team should review the files of the perpetrator(s) and victim(s) to 

determine whether changes to the agency’s or facility’s process for screening defendants/offenders for risk of sexual victimization or abusiveness may be appropriate. Having identified 

underlying problems, the agency or facility can then make the necessary changes to policies 

or practices that endanger staff and defendants/offenders. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

DC-2 Data collection 

The agency or facility collects accurate, uniform data for every reported incident of sexual abuse 

using a standardized instrument and set of definitions. The agency aggregates the incident-based 

sexual abuse data at least annually. The incident-based data collected includes, at a minimum, 

the data necessary to answer all questions from the most recent version of the BJS Survey on 

Sexual Violence. Data are obtained from multiple sources, including reports, investigation files, 

and sexual abuse incident reviews. The agency also obtains incident-based and aggregated data 

from every community corrections facility with which it contracts. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency or facility collect uniform data for every reported incident of sexual 

abuse using a standardized instrument and set of definitions?

(b) Does the agency aggregate the incident-based sexual abuse data at least annually?

(c) Does the agency collect the incident-based data necessary to answer all questions 

from the most recent version of the BJS Survey on Sexual Violence?

(d) Does the agency obtain data from multiple sources, including reports, investigation 

files, and sexual abuse incident reviews?

(e) Does the agency also obtain incident-based and aggregated data from every facility 

with which it contracts for the confinement of its defendants/offenders?

Discussion

The agency or facility is required to collect incident-based data on all incidents of sexual abuse 

to examine the specific circumstances of each incident and track any possible patterns. 

The BJS Survey on Sexual Violence asks agencies to answer questions using their aggregated data and their incident-based data collection policies. The data collection items listed in 

Appendix C include all the data that must be collected and aggregated to be able to answer 

the BJS survey questions. The most recent version of the BJS survey can be accessed electronically from the BJS Web site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/dcprea03.htm. 

Appendix C also identifies additional information that the agency might want to consider 

incorporating into its incident-based sexual abuse data collection instrument. Such elements 

may be of assistance to the agency as it reviews, revises, and develops sexual abuse prevention and response policies and procedures. The agency may also decide to collect data not 

enumerated in Appendix C. Some incident-specific information may not be available during 

the initial data collection process but may become available over time. As more incidentspecific information becomes known and available, it should be added to the other data 

collected for that incident.
IV. Monitoring 59

Aggregating collected incident-based data on an annual basis will provide the agency with 

data descriptive of trends and patterns among reported incidents of sexual abuse that took 

place within the agency and its individual facilities during the previous year. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

DC-3 Data review for corrective action

The agency reviews, analyzes, and uses all sexual abuse data, including incident-based and aggregated data, to assess and improve the effectiveness of its sexual abuse prevention, detection, and 

response policies, practices, and training. Using these data, the agency identifies problem areas, including any racial dynamics underpinning patterns of sexual abuse, takes corrective action on an 

ongoing basis, and, at least annually, prepares a report of its findings and corrective actions for each 

facility as well as the agency as a whole. The annual report also includes a comparison of the current 

year’s data and corrective actions with those from prior years and provides an assessment of the 

agency’s progress in addressing sexual abuse. The agency’s report is approved by the agency head, 

submitted to the appropriate governing body, and made readily available to the public through its 

Web site or, if it does not have one, through other means. The agency may redact specific material 

from the reports when publication would present a clear and specific threat to the safety and security of a facility, but it must indicate the nature of the material redacted. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency review, analyze, and use all sexual abuse data, including incidentbased and aggregated data, to assess the effectiveness of its sexual abuse prevention, 

detection, and response policies, practices, and training?

(b) Does the agency use the data to assess problem areas, including any racial dynamics 

underpinning patterns of sexual abuse?

(c) Does the agency take corrective action on an ongoing basis, based on the problem 

areas indicated by the analysis of the data?

(d) Does the agency prepare a report at least annually of its findings and corrective

actions for each facility as well as the agency as a whole?

(e) Does the annual report include a comparison of the current year’s data and

corrective actions with those from prior years and provide an assessment of the 

agency’s progress in addressing sexual abuse?

(f) Is the agency’s report approved by the agency head and submitted to the appropriate 

governing body?

(g) Is the agency’s report made readily available to the public through its Web site or, if it 

does not have one, through other means?

Discussion

The process of reviewing and analyzing incident-based and aggregated data allows agencies 

to detect patterns and trends that should be addressed as they review and revise their sexual 

abuse policies, practices, and training. For instance, sorting or filtering data by the victim’s 

gender, race, custody level, and type of incident may allow the agency to identify specific 

causation of these events. This analysis may also reveal racial dynamics underpinning certain 

patterns or trends of sexual abuse. Equipped with that knowledge, agency and facility heads 

can work together to begin changing those dynamics by reviewing and modifying existing 

policies and practices for keeping defendants/offenders safe. Using the conclusions and results 

from the data analysis to take this kind of corrective action will make all facilities safer.
60 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Comparing the current year’s aggregated data to previous years’ data will also yield valuable 

information about progress, including validation of implemented preventive measures. For 

example, the agency may observe a decrease in the number of allegations in an area where 

additional security measures were implemented and monitoring was enhanced. The agency 

must include incident-based and aggregated data from all facilities with which it contracts 

for the confinement of its defendants/offenders in its review and analysis as part of its overall efforts to monitor the safety of defendants/offenders in contracted facilities (PP-2).

This standard also requires that the agency’s annual report on its data analysis and corrective actions be made readily available to the public. If the agency has a Web site, the report 

should be published on it. Otherwise, the agency should make other arrangements, for example, providing paper copies upon request, to ensure that members of the public can easily 

and promptly obtain the report. Members of the public should not have to identify themselves or provide a reason for wanting to see the report as a precondition to obtaining it. 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

DC-4 Data storage, publication, and destruction

The agency ensures that the collected sexual abuse data are properly stored, securely retained, 

and protected. The agency makes all aggregated sexual abuse data, including from facilities under its direct control and those with which it contracts, readily available to the public at least 

annually through its Web site or, if it does not have one, through other means. Before making 

aggregated sexual abuse data publicly available, the agency removes all personal identifiers from 

the data. The agency maintains sexual abuse data for at least 10 years after the date of its initial 

collection unless Federal, State, or local law allows for the disposal of official information in less 

than 10 years. 

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Does the agency ensure that the collected sexual abuse data are properly stored, 

retained, protected, and destroyed?

(b) Does the agency make all aggregated sexual abuse data, including from facilities under 

its direct control and those with which it contracts, readily available to the public at 

least annually through its Web site or, if it does not have one, through other means?

(c) Are all personal identifiers removed from the aggregated data before it is made

publicly available?

(d) Does the agency maintain sexual abuse data for at least 10 years after the date of its 

initial collection unless Federal, State, or local law allows for the disposal of official 

information in less than 10 years?

Discussion

The agency’s data collection efforts will be useful to track trends and contribute to a national understanding of sexual abuse in confinement settings only if the agency stores the 

data in a manner that protects data integrity and retains the data for an adequate length 

of time. The requirement that data be securely retained and protected is meant to ensure 

the privacy of individuals involved in sexual abuse incidents and the integrity of the data. 

It is important that collected data be maintained in a way that protects the confidentiality 

of victims and alleged perpetrators. Thus, once data are aggregated, all unique identifiers 

pertaining to victims and alleged perpetrators should be removed. 
IV. Monitoring 61

The public has a legitimate interest in the data collected by agencies that serve the public. 

The data agencies are required to collect and publish under these standards will enable the 

public to understand the nature and level of safety in confinement facilities. Agency sexual 

abuse data may also inform research and efforts to improve safety. Aggregated data with 

personal identifiers removed should thus be readily available to the public. Publishing the 

data on the agency’s Web site, if it has one, is the easiest way for the public to obtain it. 

Absent a Web site, an agency may choose other feasible means to make the data public, 

such as providing paper copies to members of the public who request them. Members of the 

public should not have to identify themselves or provide a reason for seeking the data as a 

precondition to obtaining copies. 

With regard to incident-based data, the Commission recommends that agencies balance 

privacy interests against the legitimate public interest in safe facilities by establishing a 

non-burdensome process to allow researchers, academics, journalists, and others access to 

such data. 

Audits (AU) 

 Community Corrections Facilities Pretrial, Probation, and Parole

AU-1 Audits of standards 

The public agency ensures that all community corrections facilities, including contract facilities 

and pretrial, probation, and parole agencies are audited to measure compliance with the PREA 

standards. Audits must be conducted at least every three years by independent and qualified 

auditors. The public or contracted agency allows the auditor to enter and tour facilities, review 

documents, and interview staff and defendants/offenders, as deemed appropriate by the auditor, to conduct comprehensive audits. The public agency ensures that the report of the auditor’s 

findings and the public or contracted agency’s plan for corrective action (DC-3) are published 

on the appropriate agency’s Web site if it has one or are otherwise made readily available to the 

public.

Assessment Checklist YES NO

(a) Are comprehensive audits conducted at least every three years?

(b) Are auditors independent and qualified?

(c) Are independent auditors able to do the following, as deemed appropriate by the 

auditor?

 • Enter and tour facilities

 • Review documents

 • Interview staff and defendants/offenders

(d) Are audit reports and corrective plans published on the appropriate agency’s Web site 

if it has one or otherwise made readily available to the public?
62 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Discussion

Publicly available audits allow agencies, legislative bodies, and the public to learn whether 

facilities are complying with the PREA standards. Audits can also be a resource for the Attorney General in determining whether States are meeting their statutory responsibilities. 

Public audits help focus an agency’s or facility’s efforts and can serve as the basis upon 

which an agency or facility can formulate a plan to correct any identified deficiencies. These 

corrective action plans should be made public as well so that the public is fully informed as 

to whether the agency is taking appropriate steps to prevent sexual abuse. If the agency or 

facility has a Web site, the audit should be published on it; otherwise, the agency or facility may choose other feasible means to ensure the public has easy access to the audit, such 

as providing paper copies to members of the public who request it. Members of the public 

should not have to identify themselves or specify a reason for seeking the audit as a precondition to obtaining it. 

The transparency achieved by public audits and corrective action plans can enhance community confidence in the steps agencies are taking to prevent sexual abuse in community 

corrections facilities and pretrial, probation, and parole agencies. Public audits and corrective action plans can help generate public support for providing an agency or facility with 

the resources it needs to prevent abuse more effectively. They also help ensure that oversight 

bodies, including legislative bodies and community advocates, have the data necessary to 

decide whether and how to take action to improve sexual abuse prevention efforts. 

For audits to serve these purposes effectively, they must be based on reliable and comprehensive information and be conducted by individuals or teams with the skills and objectivity necessary to take the following actions: (1) identify and gather the data that must be 

analyzed; (2) employ proper professional judgment when analyzing the data; and (3) work 

effectively with jurisdictions in planning audits. The requirements of this standard are designed to ensure that the audit process meets minimum audit standards while providing 

appropriate flexibility to the subject facility or agency regarding the identity of the auditor. 

Under this standard, an audit must be conducted by an individual or group of individuals 

who are independent of the agency, with no current direct reporting relationship to the head 

of the community corrections agency or facility being audited. Licensing authorities may be 

used to conduct audits of community corrections agencies or facilities.
Appendix A 63

APPENDIX A:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINERS

The Commission directs all agency and facility heads to the U.S. Department of Justice’s national protocol for extensive information on the appropriate qualifications and responsibilities 

of forensic medical examiners.1

 However an agency decides to adapt the national protocol, the 

Commission strongly recommends that the agency use the following description of responsibilities of the forensic medical examiner as a blueprint for the qualifications an agency should 

be considering when developing memoranda of understanding or entering into contracts with 

forensic medical examiners.

Forensic medical examiner responsibilities

1. Obtain forensic histories from victims.

2. Use sexual assault evidence collection kits that are standardized and meet or exceed minimum guidelines for contents.

3. Use the proper equipment and supplies to perform the exam (e.g., anoscope, colposcope 

with photographic capability, microscope, toluidine blue dye, in addition to standard exam 

room equipment and supplies).

4. Take initial and follow-up photographs of injuries, as appropriate, according to jurisdictional 

policy.

5. Maintain evidence integrity according to jurisdictional policies for drying, packaging, labeling, and sealing the evidence.

6. Maintain the chain of custody for all evidence collected.

7. Follow jurisdictional protocol for transferring the evidence in the custody of an authorized 

agent from the exam site to a crime laboratory or a secure storage area with the proper 

climate control.

8. Document all services provided, including recommendations for continued care regarding 

sexually transmitted infection examinations, testing, immunizations, post-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment.

9. Transfer copies of the defendant/offender’s medical file back to the facility/agency, if the 

exam is conducted off-site.

1U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic 

Examinations, Adults/Adolescents (NCJ 206554), Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, September 2004. This protocol is available electronically at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ovw/206554.pdf.

Appendix B 65

APPENDIX B: 

TRAINING TOPICS AND PROCEDURES

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has developed a number of Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training resources. The Commission directs all agency and facility heads to 

NIC’s Web site (http://www.nicic.org) to learn more about existing resources and opportunities for training. However an agency or facility decides to deliver training, the Commission 

strongly recommends that the following topics be included for employee training. Some may 

also be appropriate for volunteer and defendant/offender training. 

Following the list of topics, the Commission has made some procedural recommendations for 

ensuring that agency and facility heads deliver the most effective sexual abuse and PREA training to employees, volunteers, and defendants/offenders.

I. Recommended training topics

A. General education and awareness topics

1. An overview of PREA.

2. A description of the inalienable right of all defendants/offenders to be free from sexual 

abuse.

3. The role of community corrections officials to protect and enforce the human right to be 

free from sexual abuse.

4. Definitions and examples of prohibited and/or illegal behaviors and language that are

considered sexual abuse.

5. Examples of conduct, circumstances, and “red flags” that may be precursors to sexual abuse 

or which suggest sexual abuse is occurring.

6. The agency’s anti-retaliation policy.

7. Common reactions by victims of sexual abuse.

8. The agency’s liability for sexual abuse of persons in custody (criminal, civil, and

administrative).

9. A discussion of how sexual abuse is used to gain power and control in confinement

settings.

10. The agency’s policy regarding defendants/offenders who knowingly make false allegations 

of staff-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse or staff-on-defendant/offender sexual 

harassment.

11. Common myths and perceptions of sexual intimidation and abuse in confinement settings.

12. Professional boundary setting, including issues related to personal associations with 

defendants/offenders, consent, imbalances of power, and appropriate vs. inappropriate 

touching.

13. Information on adolescent emotional, physical, and sexual development, if the facility is 

responsible for the supervision of young defendants/offenders.

14. Strategies for promoting effective prevention and intervention of staff-on-defendant/

offender sexual abuse and staff-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment.
66 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

15. Strategies for removing a victim or witness of sexual abuse from any public or semipublic 

area without arousing the suspicion of other defendants/offenders or staff members.

16. Strategies for protecting the safety of vulnerable populations, including but not limited 

to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and gender-nonconforming defendants/offenders (including 

transgender and intersex); deaf, speech-impaired, or visually impaired defendants/offenders; 

developmentally disabled defendants/offenders; defendants/offenders with limited English 

proficiency; mentally ill defendants/offenders; defendants/offenders with past histories of 

sexual abuse; defendants/offenders with personality disorders; and young defendants/

offenders.

B. Sexual abuse reporting duties

1. Staff members’ duty to report sexual abuse and their liability if they fail to report.

2. The process staff members should use to report sexual abuse.

3. The process that defendants/offenders should use to report sexual abuse.

4. Medical and mental health practitioners reporting duties and the process they should use 

to report sexual abuse.

5. Relevant State or local mandatory child abuse reporting laws, and staff responsibility under 

such laws to report sexual abuse to a designated State or local services agency with the 

authority to conduct investigations into abuse against youth in confinement/supervision.

C. Medical and mental health care

1. The range of victims’ services available to defendants/offenders, including free medical 

and mental health care for injuries and/or trauma resulting from sexual abuse, and how 

defendants/offenders gain access to those services.

2. Rules governing forensic medical exams.

3. How to detect sexual abuse during medical and mental health exams.

D. Investigations and discipline

1. The investigative process for allegations of sexual abuse, including the importance of 

preserving evidence.

2. The legal and disciplinary sanctions for defendants/offenders who engage in defendant/

offender-on-defendant/offender sexual abuse or defendant/offender-on-defendant/

offender sexual harassment.

3. The legal and disciplinary sanctions for staff who engage in actual or attempted staff-ondefendant/offender sexual abuse or staff-on-defendant/offender sexual harassment.

4. Victims’ rights based on relevant State or Federal law.

5. The rights of a staff member who is the subject of an investigation based on relevant 

Federal or State law or, if applicable, under collective bargaining agreements.
Appendix B 67

II. Recommended procedures for delivering training

A. General guidance

1. Train existing staff prior to training defendants/offenders.

2. Train new staff members before they have contact with defendants/offenders.

3. Prohibit staff members from working with defendants/offenders until they can demonstrate 

knowledge of the agency’s sexual abuse policies and procedures.

4. Ensure that staff members, contractors, and defendants/offenders have access to copies of 

the agency’s sexual abuse policies.

5. Use multiple mechanisms for presenting the information, including lectures, dialogues, 

role-play/scenario-based training, and other interactive techniques.

6. Ensure training materials are up to date by reviewing them at least annually and making 

revisions, if necessary, to address changes in laws, policies, or protocols.

7. Provide refresher training to staff, contractors, and defendants/offenders following any 

changes to law or policy.

8. Provide annual continuing education on sexual abuse that includes a review of the agency’s 

sexual abuse data from the previous year.

B. Testing and evaluation

1. Test staff members following training.

2. Ask staff, contractors, and defendants/offenders to provide feedback on training, including 

suggestions for improving training tools and materials.

3. Evaluate staff members who conduct training at least annually to ensure that they are 

qualified and able to provide training effectively. 

Appendix C 69

APPENDIX C: 

INCIDENT-BASED DATA COLLECTION

Standard DC-2 requires agencies to collect incident-based data for every incident of sexual 

abuse. Under this standard, the agency is required to collect data sufficient to answer all of 

the questions from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS’) Survey on Sexual Violence. Collecting 

data on the following items would allow the agency to answer the questions posed on the BJS 

survey and should help it to reach the broader goal of elimination sexual abuse and keeping 

defendants/offenders safe.

I. Victim information

1. Sex and gender identity.

2. Race/ethnicity.

3. Age.

4. Custody level.

5. Height and weight.

6. Classification assignment.

7. Previous sexual victimization in confinement.

8. Previous sexually abusive behavior in confinement.

9. Prior relationship with the alleged perpetrator.

10. Gang affiliation outside and/or inside the facility.

11. HIV/AIDS status.

II. Perpetrator information

A. Defendant/offender perpetrator

1. Sex and gender identity.

2. Race/ethnicity.

3. Age.

4. Custody level.

5. Height and weight.

6. Classification assignment.

7. Previous sexual victimization in confinement.

8. Previous sexually abusive behavior in confinement.

9. Prior relationship with the victim.

10. Gang affiliation outside and/or inside the facility.

11. HIV/AIDS status.

B. Staff perpetrator

1. Sex and gender identity.

2. Race/ethnicity.

3. Age.

4. Position held within the agency.

5. Relationship with victim.
70 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

6. Prior history of allegations and/or substantiated incidents of sexual abuse or harassment 

in current and prior employment.

7. Prior history of failure to comply with the agency’s sexual abuse policies.

III. Other incident information

A. Reporting 

1. The date and time of the report.

2. The date, time, and location of the incident.

3. The reporting mechanism used.

4. Who made the report.

5. To whom the report was made.

6. Details of the incident alleged to have occurred, including type of sexual abuse.

7. The time lapse between when the incident took place and when the report was made.

8. The time lapse between when the report was made and when an investigation was

initiated.

9. The time lapse between when the report was made and when the defendant/offender 

received medical/mental health care, if applicable.

B. Medical and/or mental health care

1. Whether the victim received medical and/or mental health care.

2. Any injuries sustained by the victim.

C. Investigations

1. Type of investigation pursued: criminal and/or administrative.

2. Name of investigator(s).

3. Dates of the initiation and conclusion of the investigation(s).

4. Outcome of the investigation(s)/if the investigation(s) is ongoing.

5. Violations of administrative and/or criminal codes.

6. If the case is referred for prosecution, whether the prosecutor accepted or declined the 

investigation and, if accepted, the case disposition.

7. If administrative actions against staff member(s) or defendant/offender(s) are pursued, 

details about the sanctions.
Appendix D 71

APPENDIX D: 

NPREC STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT EXPERT 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

During the standards development process, the Commission convened expert committees 

comprised of diverse stakeholders with broad correctional expertise to provide information 

and guidance. The Commission thanks the members of the expert committees for their participation and contribution.

Organizational affiliations are provided for identification purposes only; committee members 

were not necessarily acting as representatives of their organizations. This list reflects each committee member’s organizational affiliation at the time of participation and may not represent 

the person’s current position. The Commission’s standards do not reflect the official views of 

any of the organizations referenced here.

Carrie Abner, Research Associate, American Probation and Parole Association

Aaron Aldrich, Chief Inspector, Rhode Island Department of Corrections

James Austin, President, JFA Institute

Roy F. Austin, Jr., Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

Chris Baker, Lieutenant, Corrections Supervisor/Jail Administrator, Van Buren County 

Sheriff’s Office, Michigan

David Balagia, Major, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Texas

Joe Baumann, Corrections Officer, California Rehabilitation Center Chapter President, 

California Correctional Peace Officers Association

Jeffrey Beard, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Theodis Beck, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Correction

Art Beeler, Warden, Federal Correctional Complex, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 

U.S. Department of Justice

Andrea Black, Coordinator, Detention Watch Network

Charma Blount, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Tim Brennan, Principal, Northpointe Institute for Public Management, Inc.

Lorie Brisbin, Program Coordinator, Prisons Division, Idaho Department of Correction

Barbara Broderick, Director, Maricopa County Adult Probation Department, Arizona

Roger Canaff, Deputy Chief, Sex Offender Management Unit, Office of the Attorney 

General, New York

Susan Paige Chasson, President, International Association of Forensic Nurses

Gwendolyn Chunn, Immediate Past President, American Correctional Association

Suanne Cunningham, National Director, Corrections/Criminal Justice Program, 

Heery International
72 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Karen Dalton, Director, Correctional Services Division, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Kim Day, SAFE Technical Assistance Coordinator, International Association of Forensic Nurses

Gina DeBottis, Executive Director, Special Prosecution Unit, Texas Youth Commission

Kathleen Dennehy, Superintendent, Security Operations, Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, 

Massachusetts

Gary Dennis, Senior Associate, The Moss Group, Inc.

Ruth Divelbiss, Captain, Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas

Mark Donatelli, Partner, Rothstein, Donatelli, Hughes, Dahlstrom, Schoenburg, and Bienvenu LLP

Sarah Draper, Director of Investigations, Office of Investigation and Compliance, Internal 

Investigation Unit, Georgia Department of Corrections

Dr. Richard Dudley, Private Practice of Clinical and Forensic Psychiatry

Robert Dumond, President and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Consultants for 

Improved Human Services, PLLC

Earl Dunlap, Chief Executive Officer, National Partnership for Juvenile Services

Maureen Dunn, Director, Unaccompanied Children’s Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 

Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Teena Farmon, Retired Warden, Central California Women’s Facility

Lisa Freeman, Staff Attorney, Prisoners’ Rights Project, Legal Aid Society, New York City

Vanessa Garza, Associate Director for Trafficking Policy, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 

Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Michael Gennaco, Chief Attorney, Office of Independent Review, Los Angeles County 

Sheriff’s Department

Karen Giannakoulias, Forensic Interviewer/Victim Advocate, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 

Washington, D.C.

Steve Gibson, Administrator, Youth Services Division, Montana Department of Corrections

Simon Gonsoulin, Former Director, Louisiana Office of Youth Development

Kathleen Graves, Director, Community Corrections Services, Kansas Department of Corrections

Robert L. Green, Warden, Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Montgomery County 

Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Maryland

Dr. Robert Greifinger, Correctional Health Care and Quality Management Consultant

David Guntharp, Director, Arkansas Department of Community Correction

Karyn Hadfield, Training Specialist, Day One: The Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center

Dee Halley, PREA Program Manager, National Institute of Corrections, Federal Bureau 

of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice

Greg Hamilton, Sheriff, Travis County, Texas

Patrick M. Hanlon, Partner, Goodwin Proctor LLP

Patricia Hardyman, Senior Associate, Association of State Correctional Administrators
Appendix D 73

Rachel Harmon, Associate Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law

Michael Hennessey, Sheriff, City and County of San Francisco, California

Andrew Jordan, Consultant, Migima, LLC; Retired Chief of Police, Bend Police Department, Oregon

Thomas Kane, Assistant Director, Information, Policy and Public Affairs Division, Federal 

Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice

Cliff Keenan, Assistant Director, District of Columbia Pretrial Services Agency

Jacqueline Kotkin, Field Services Executive, Probation and Parole, Vermont Department 

of Corrections

Deborah LaBelle, Attorney

Madie LaMarre, Consultant

Neal Langan, Senior Research Analyst, Office of Research and Evaluation, Federal Bureau 

of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice

Dori Lewis, Senior Supervising Attorney, Prisoners’ Rights Project, Legal Aid Society, 

New York City

Cheryl Little, Executive Director, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Inc.

Jennifer Long, Director, National Center for the Prosecution of Violence Against Women

Christy Lopez, Partner, Independent Assessment and Monitoring, LLP

Margaret Love, Attorney; Consulting Director, American Bar Association Commission on

Effective Criminal Sanctions

Bobbi Luna, Captain, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon

Martha Lyman, Director of Research, Hampden County Correctional Center, Massachusetts

Bob Maccarone, Director, New York State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives

Cindy Malm, Consultant, Retired Jail Administrator, Rocky Mountain Corrections

Michael Marette, Assistant Director of Corrections, American Federation of State, County, 

and Municipal Employees

Jenifer Markowitz, Forensic Nurse Consultant, DOVE Program, Summa Health System

Steve Martin, Attorney/Corrections Consultant 

Susan McCampbell, President, Center for Innovative Public Policies, Inc., McCampbell &

Associates, Inc.

Ron McCuan, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service; Public Health Analyst, National Institute 

of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice

Linda McFarlane, Mental Health Program Director, Just Detention International

Jeff McInnis, PREA Coordinator, District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services

John Milian, Detention and Deportation Officer, Criminal Alien Program, Office of Detention 

and Removal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Phyllis Modley, Correctional Program Specialist, Community Corrections Division, National 

Institute of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice
74 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Jean Moltz, Correctional Health Care Consultant

James Montross, Director of Mental Health Monitoring, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Marcia Morgan, Consultant, Migima, LLC

John Moriarty, Inspector General, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Anadora Moss, President, The Moss Group, Inc. 

Gail D. Mumford, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Melissa Nolan, Executive Assistant, Policy and Public Affairs Division, Federal Bureau of 

Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice

Christopher Nugent, Senior Counsel, Community Services Team, Holland & Knight LLP

Barbara Owen, Professor of Criminology, California State University, Fresno

David Parrish, Colonel, Commander, Department of Detention Services, Hillsborough 

County Sheriff’s Office, Florida

T.J. Parsell, Human Rights Activist, Author of Fish: A Memoir of a Boy in a Man’s Prison

Dr. Farah M. Parvez, Director, Office of Correctional Public Health, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and 

TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Susan Poole, Criminal Justice Consultant; Retired Warden, California Institution for Women

Roberto Hugh Potter, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Eugenie Powers, Director, Probation and Parole, Louisiana Department of Public Safety 

and Corrections

Judy Preston, Deputy Chief, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice

J. Michael Quinlan, Senior Vice President, Corrections Corporation of America

Jeffrey Renzi, Associate Director, Planning and Research, Rhode Island Department of Corrections

Denise Robinson, President and CEO, Alvis House; Past-President, International Community 

Corrections Association

Melissa Rothstein, East Coast Program Director, Just Detention International

David Roush, Director, National Partnership for Juvenile Services, Center for Research and 

Professional Development, National Juvenile Detention Association

Elissa Rumsey, Compliance Monitoring Coordinator, Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice

Timothy Ryan, Director, Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department

Teresa Scalzo, Senior Policy Advisor, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, U.S. 

Department of Defense

Vincent Schiraldi, Director, District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services

Margo Schlanger, Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
Appendix D 75

Karen Schneider, Legal Consultant

Dana Shoenberg, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Children’s Law and Policy

Linda Smith, Research Consultant

Donald Specter, Director, Prison Law Office

Mai-Linh Spencer, Deputy State Public Defender, Office of the State Public Defender, California

Richard Stalder, Former Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

Lovisa Stannow, Executive Director, Just Detention International

Lara Stemple, Former Director, Just Detention International; Director, Graduate Studies, 

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law

Tom Stickrath, Director, Ohio Department of Youth Services

Victor Stone, Special Counsel, Office of Enforcement Operations, Criminal Division, U.S. 

Department of Justice

Robert Sudlow, Chief Probation Officer, Ulster County Probation Department, New York

Anjali Swienton, Director of Outreach, National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology, and 

the Law, Stetson University College of Law; President and CEO, SciLaw Forensics Ltd.

Robin Toone, Attorney, Foley Hoag LLP

Cynthia Totten, Program Director, Just Detention International

Ashbel T. Wall, II, Director, Rhode Island Department of Corrections

Kelly Ward, Former Warden, David Wade Correctional Center, Louisiana Department of 

Public Safety and Corrections

Richard White, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, City of New York Department of Correction

Anne Wideman, Clinical Psychologist

Reginald Wilkinson, Executive Director, Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education and 

the Economy; Former Director, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Margaret Winter, Associate Director, National Prison Project, American Civil Liberties Union

Jason Ziedenberg, Consultant; Former Director, Justice Policy Institute

Appendix E 77

APPENDIX E: 

STANDARDS IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT 

During the public comment period, the Commission conducted a Standards Implementation 

Needs Assessment (SINA). The Commission created the SINA process to provide feedback on the 

draft standards through a series of “case studies” at particular facilities. More than 40 facilities from 

around the country applied to participate in the SINA process. The Commission selected 11 sites 

that reflected ranges in capacity, populations, and geographic settings and that included jails and 

prisons; facilities for men, women, and juveniles; and community corrections facilities. Each site 

visit took place over one and a half days and included a facility tour and five structured interviews: 

one with the Warden or Superintendent, and the others with small groups of staff to discuss general issues, training, medical/mental health, and investigations. These group interviews involved a 

variety of staff with experience relevant to the particular topic. When possible, we also spoke with 

inmates detained in the facilities. 

Pilot Site

Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Montgomery County Department of Correction and 

Rehabilitation, Boyds, MD

April 22–23, 2008

Jails

Suffolk County House of Correction, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Boston, MA

May 22–23, 2008

Washington County Jail, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsboro, OR

June 5–6, 2008

Juvenile Facilities

Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility, Ohio Department of Youth Services, Highland Hills, OH

July 9–10, 2008

Lynn W. Ross Juvenile Center, Tarrant County Juvenile Probation Department, Tarrant County 

Juvenile Services, Fort Worth, TX

June 24–25, 2008

Prisons for Men

James Allred Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Iowa Park, TX

June 22–23, 2008

Northern Correctional Facility, West Virginia Division of Corrections, Moundsville, WV

July 7–8, 2008
78 Standards for the Prevention, Detection, Response, and Monitoring of Sexual Abuse in Community Corrections

Prisons for Women

New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility, New Mexico Corrections Department, Grants, NM

June 26–27, 2008

Valley State Prison for Women, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 

Chowchilla, CA

June 3–4, 2008

Community Corrections Facilities

Southwestern Ohio Serenity (SOS) Hall, Hamilton, OH 

August 1, 2008

Talbert House, Cincinnati, OH

July 30–31, 2008