Unit 8 Inmates And Sexuality Lesson 2 Sexual Abuse PDF

Unit 8 Inmates and Sexuality Lesson 2 Sexual Abuse Lesson Goal You will be able to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment according to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards. Think About This According to a 2008 report by the U.S. Department of Justice, one in 10...

Unit 8 Inmates and Sexuality Lesson 2 Sexual Abuse Lesson Goal You will be able to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment according to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards. Think About This According to a 2008 report by the U.S. Department of Justice, one in 10 inmates suffered sexual abuse while in a correctional facility or jail. The PREA standards provide guidelines to prevent sexual abuse among inmates. It provides a grievance reporting system, increased staff monitor- ing, prompt medical and mental health treatment for victims, and discipline for inmate or staff perpetrators. Applying PREA ✅ CO782.1. Know the meaning of the term sexual abuse in a correctional setting PREA defines sexual abuse as sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by another inmate, detainee, resident, staff member, contractor, or volunteer. Sexual abuse occurs when the victim either: does not consent is coerced by open or implied threats of violence is unable to consent or refuse The following sexual acts are sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by another inmate, detainee, or resident: contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus, including penetra- tion, however slight contact between the mouth and the penis, vulva, or anus any penetration of the anal or genital opening of another person by a hand, finger, object, or other instrument any other intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or the buttocks of another person, excluding contact inci- dental to a physical altercation Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 243 The following acts, in addition to the above, are sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer when there is the intent to abuse, arouse, or gratify sexual desire: contact between the mouth and any body part contact unrelated to official duties any attempt, threat, or request to engage in the sexual acts described above any display of a staff member’s, contractor’s, or volunteer’s uncovered genitalia, buttocks, or breast in the presence of an inmate, detainee, or resident voyeurism ✅ CO782.2. Know the meaning of voyeurism in a correctional setting Voyeurism is an invasion of privacy of an inmate, detainee, or resident by staff for reasons unre- lated to official duties, such as: peering at an inmate who is using a toilet in their cell to perform bodily functions requiring an inmate to expose their buttocks, genitals, or breasts taking images of all or part of an inmate’s naked body or of an inmate performing bodily functions ✅ CO782.3. Know the meaning of sexual harassment in a correctional setting PREA mandates that correctional facilities have zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harass- ment. Sexual harassment includes: repeated and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal comments, gestures, or actions of a derogatory or offensive sexual nature by one inmate, detainee, or resident directed toward another repeated verbal comments or gestures of a sexual nature to an inmate, detainee, or resident by a staff member, contractor, or volunteer, including demeaning references to gender, sexually suggestive or derogatory comments about body or clothing, or obscene language or gestures ✅ CO782.4. Know the role of PREA in reducing the prevalence of sexual abuse in a correctional setting PREA addresses the safety and treatment of inmates who have been victims of non-consensual sex acts, and disciplines and prosecutes those who commit or promote these acts. It provides guide- lines for the first responding officer and the investigator of a suspected sexual abuse incident, as well as for housing the involved inmates before, during, and after the initial investigation. 244 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 Characteristics of Victims ✅ CO782.5. Know the characteristics of inmates who can be targets of sexual abuse in a correctional setting Targets of sexual abuse and sexual harassment in a correctional setting include inmates who: identify as LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex) are younger have disabilities (mental health, developmental/intellectual, physical) are biracial or multiracial have been victims of previous sexual abuse ✅ CO782.6. Know the common physical and behavioral signs of inmates who are victims of sexual abuse Possible physical signs that an inmate has experienced sexual abuse include: sexually transmitted infections unexplained pregnancies stomach or abdominal pain anal, penile, or vaginal discharge, bleeding, or pain difficulty walking or sitting unexplained injury Possible behaviors that a sexually abused inmate may display include: acting out fear, numbness, denial anger, anxiety, depression suicidal thoughts difficulty with daily routines and concentrating Some of the reasons that a sexual abuse victim might not report the abuse may include one, several, or all of the following reasons: feeling embarrassed or ashamed lack of knowledge about how to report fear of being written up for misconduct Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 245  fear of retaliation by inmates or staff fear of not being believed ✅ CO782.7. Understand the association between trauma and sexual abuse as well as the effect of trauma on inmates who are victims of sexual abuse Victims usually have ongoing contact with the perpetrator(s), increasing the likelihood of revic- timization. Often separating the victim from the general population to avoid this scenario isolates an inmate, who feels punished, limits access to services, and leaves the victim with no support system. In addition, the corrections environment is not conducive to expressing emotions. Sexual abuse is traumatic for the victim; it changes how a person’s brain responds to stress or any stimuli that can induce an emotional response. Inmates who are victims of sexual abuse can display the following behaviors associated with expe- riencing trauma: hypervigilance (being constantly on guard to a degree that makes it difficult to disengage from stressful situations) acting without thinking inability to calm down intense or prolonged anxiety irritability, aggressiveness, impulsiveness The long-term effects of the trauma of sexual abuse can include: flashbacks and nightmares mood swings social withdrawal sudden and unexplained changes in behavior or personality PTSD Responding to Sexual Abuse Screening for risk of victimization and abusiveness is an important piece of the intake/reception process. All inmates should be assessed during an intake screening and upon transfer to another facil- ity for their risk of being sexually abused by other inmates or sexually abusive toward other inmates. 246 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 ✅ CO782.8. Know the role of screening and housing inmates to prevent sexual abuse and harassment Inmates at high risk for sexual victimization should not be placed in involuntary segregated housing unless an assessment of all available alternatives has been made and there is no means of separation from likely abusers. If a facility cannot conduct an assessment immediately, the facility may hold an inmate in involuntary segregated housing for less than 24 hours while completing the assessment. ✅ CO782.9. Know the reporting processes for inmates and officers’ requirements for reporting sexual abuse and harassment Inmates should have ways to privately report sexual abuse and sexual harassment, retaliation by other inmates or staff for reporting abuse, and staff neglect or violation of responsibilities that may have contributed to the abuse. This includes the ability to report abuse or harassment to a public or private entity. Accept all inmate reports of sexual abuse or harassment made verbally, in writing, anonymously, and from third parties. Treat all sexual abuse allegations seriously and promptly document the sexual abuse incident. Do not reveal any information related to a sexual abuse report to anyone unless it is specific to an investigation, treatment, or security or management decisions. ✅ CO782.10. Know the appropriate response to an inmate allegation of sexual abuse the first responding officer should make to preserve any physical evidence Upon learning of an allegation that an inmate was sexually abused, the first responding officer should separate the alleged victim and abuser and preserve and protect any crime scene until appropriate steps can be taken to collect any evidence. If the abuse occurred within a time period that still allows for the collection of physical evidence, ensure that the alleged victim does not take any actions that could destroy physical evidence, such as washing, showering, brushing teeth, changing clothes, urinating, defecating, smoking, drinking, or eating. Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 247