60,000 Inmates Raped Annually

MSNBC reports that a new study conducted by the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission estimates that more than 60,000 inmates are sexually assaulted in prison each year and being short, gay, and/or female increases an inmate's risk of being abused.

The eight-member panel, which was formed under the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act, concluded their findings based upon a 2007 survey of tens of thousands of incarcerated people in which 4.5 percent of those surveyed reported being sexually abused in the previous 12 months. More prisoners claimed the abuse was committed by staff rahter than by other inmates.

Some of the key findings of the report, which was aimed at reducing the amount of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse behind bars, are as follows:

- Who gets abused depends on where they serve their prison sentences. Ten facilities studied had high rates, between 9 percent and almost 16 percent, whereas six facilities reported no abuse at all for the past year.

- Inmates in jails reported fewer instances of rape than in prisons.

- Inmates who were short, young, gay or female were more likely to be victimized than other inmates.

So what is the solution? The commission says more internal monitoring and investigation of sexual assault claims are needed. As it stands, many victims cannot safely come forward with their claims of sexual abuse.

The commission's report is supposed to be sent to Congress after which the attorney general is to create new national standards for detecting and preventing rape and sexual assault in prisons, jails and detention facilities.

Author's name: Gabriel Dorman
Author's e-mail: gabedorman@gmail.com
Author's blog URL: www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/