Correctional officials subject female inmates to rape, other sexual assault, sexual extortion, and groping during body searches. Male correctional officials watch women undressing, in the shower or the toilet. Male correctional officials retaliate often brutally against female inmates who complain about sexual assault and harassment. Rape of inmates is considered to be torture according to both the UN Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the US has ratified. The US has not ratified it.
Guards threaten the prisoner's children and visitation rights as a means of silencing the women.
Guards issue rules-infraction tickets which extend the woman's stay in prison if she speaks out. Prisoners who complain are frequently placed in administration segregation Impunity Ineffective formal procedures, legislation and reporting capacity within U.S. jails and prisons accounts for much of the ongoing sexual abuse of women. In 1997, according to the US Justice Department only 10 prison employees in the entire federal system were disciplined, only 7 were prosecuted. The inmate can be transferred to another facility. Due to insufficient mental health services in the community, massive incarceration of drug addicted women, the stresses of incarceration including sexual abuse by guards.