As of June 1998, more than 3,500 children convicted as adults were housed with adult prisoners, putting them at risk of physical and sexual abuse. Women prisoners, who make up 10 percent of the prison population, are at high risk of sexual assault. Women prisoners have reported being shackled and in full restraints while pregnant or in labor. Abusive use of restraints is reported. A prisoner in Maricopa County, Arizona died after being placed in a restraint chair with a towel over his face.
Chain gangs operate once again in Alabama, Arizona, Florida and Wisconsin.
Asylum-seekers are treated as criminals, according to the report. In addition, female asylum-seekers are at high risk of sexual assault and children may be separated from their families. Widespread use and abuse of the death penalty is documented. The death penalty is legal in 38 US states, and more than 3,300 people sit on death row. People who were less than 18 years old at the time of the crime can be legally executed in 24 states.