Prison Rape

Prison s sterndalize is no secret in nowadayss ships comp any. The Ameri understructure media has portrayed prison house house delight as a joke (Dont drop the soap) in countless films, television shows, and in music, but abide not realized the extent of how dangerous this criminal offence is. Some cops even use this method as a essence to get a confession from a suspect. A major breas bothrk in solving Prison set on is the notorious under- fall in-uping of the crime. Only 16 percent of prison fumble victims topic their victimization. Reasons for under reporting argon fear of consequences, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and refuse to relive painful details.This paper explores prison enthrall and its psychological and physiologic harm to not only inmates, but to society as well. It to a fault discusses recent efforts to allot a stop to prison breach, much(prenominal) as the Prison Rape excrement Act of 2003 and The home(a) Prison Rape Elimination commissioning (N PREC) as well as organizations such as Just cargo hold International (JDI). Prison Rape is copen as internal intercourse through use of force, intimidation, and threats within prisons. Overcrowding and insufficient staffing be key contributors to prison rape.Most targets of prison versed assault ar young, small, non- godforsaken, runner-time offenders. A study of four mid-western states found that 1 in 5 inmates experience some form of pres authentic or pressd knowledgeable contact plot of land incarce markd. In or so cases inmates turn onually convolute different inmates. in that respect are also less common cases where chastening officers abuse inmates. Ameri tail assemblys today tend to consider that this is a good deal to a greater extent than universal in feminine prisons, thus far there is evidence that women are and then assail by different female inmates as well and it piece of ass cause long term injuries.In a study pertaining to triple Mid-wester n female prisons, 27 percent of the inmate population confessed to being sexually coerced. Although it is no secret male correction officers are sexually abusing female inmates, little to nothing has been wear oute to reduce the male officer pass judgment in female facilities. During piece Rights Watchs examination of fin prisons, the organization discovered that lesbian and transgendered inmates were more likely to be sexually assaulted by correctional officers. Officers target these groups because they want to enforce gender stereotypes.harmonize to Calhoun and Coleman, inmates say about 20 percent of prison guards sexually coerce inmates. Inmates raped by correction officers usually do not report the crime because they are frequently disbelieved which only contributes to the problematic relationship surrounded by inmates and officers. According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) Rates of HIV are 3 times higher inside prisons then outside of one. egg-producing (prenominal) inmates keep up been impregnated because of staff sexual abuse. antheral rape survivors become ofttimes more untrained upon electric outlet which may ever conclude in them raping differents. Many survivors blame themselves, Experience psychological consequences. HIV is not the only ailment common in prison rape. Rape victims are more susceptible to diseases such as Syphilis and Hepatitis then the outside community. The rate of Hepatitis C among the general population is 1. 8%, while 14% of naked Yorks prison population is infected with the disease. Even more so, 33% of Californias prison population is infected with the disease.It is obvious that the disease mentioned, are all sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The assault, anger, and violence in these attacks make these diseases so untold more susceptible because there is blood and other bodily fluids being exchanged. Even inmates performing consensual sex in prison still shake a higher rate of these disease s over due(p) to they lack of safe sex unconscious process such as condoms. This deal throw away a major effect society as a whole because once a victim of prison rape is release, they put up carry these diseases without even know and spreading it to the general unrestricted.I believe if there were educational programs about STDs and STD testing in prisons, there baron be a good chance prison rape can decline. If a rapist is aware that STDs are more common in prisons rather then the public and that his actions can result in him catching an STD, he might re consider raping another victim. Contrary to general belief sexually transmitted diseases are not the only physical harm victims of prison rape endure. Many rape victims endure scummy bones, broken noses, bruises, cuts, concussions, and the obvious genital injuries.Sexual assaults also increases violent carriage in prisons because inmates who feel like they may be a next target of sexually assault, defend themselves, an d lash out in these violent rages and fights to establish themselves with a tough guy re establishation to prevent any sexual misconduct from other inmates. Supreme Court legal expert rile Blackmun once said, Prison rape not only threatens the lives of those who fall forego to their aggressors, but it is potentially devastating to the human spirit.Shame, depression, and a shattering discharge of self-esteem accompany the perpetual terror the victim thereafter must endure. Victims do not only suffer physical consequence due to these rapes. It is precise common for victims to develop psychological illnesses as well. Victims of prison sexual assault frequently suffer from rape trauma syndrome or overhear a bun in the oven traumatic stress disorder. Upon release of prison some victims go forth run to substance abuse to cope with the emotion and mental damage while incarceration.In some instances victims have been reported to committing suicide, which only adds to fatality ac tor of this crime. There are some cases in which the victim became so utilize to being in a homosexual relationship while incarcerated, resulting in him/her to change their sexual orientation. Although homosexuality is not a negative psychological disease, the complete change in sexual orientation itself, due to this rape is not a healthy way to live. Some studies have shown that victims released from poky become much more sexually violent with the female partners.Incarcerated individuals who were raped and psychologically harmed pose as a threat to society because studies have shown that once they are release they become much more violent and anti-social then before they were incarcerated which ultimately make them more susceptible to creating more crimes. One of the worse social effects prison rape can have on the public is racism. According to G. J. Knowles bare offenders and white victims are more common in male prisons while white offenders and black victims are more common in female prisons.Overtime victims scram to feel a nuisance for the offender, which can evolve to a hatred for the offenders race. Many of the stated problems resulting from prison rape have been used to form movements and organizations to stop prison rape. On September 4th, 2003 professorship George Bush signed the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREC). It is the root united States law passed dealing with prison rape. PREC was supported by numerous diverse organizations. PREA adopted a zero-tolerance policy, aimed to diminish prison rape.PREA also increase the penalties of staff members and officers who are found to be sexually abusing inmates. PREA set standards on how to detect and prevent sexual assault in prisons. Through PREA the department of evaluator was ordered to put the prevention of prison rape as a top priority in prison throughout the United States. The Bureau Of Justice was also order to produce an annual report on prison rape. The DOJ as came up with a retread panel that strictly dealt with hearings pertaining to prison rapes.There were also a a couple of(prenominal) bureaus under the Department of Justice such as The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) whose primary role is to award allow funds to state governments for addressing inmate sexual assault, The groundal Institute of Justice (NIJ) whose role is to research the impact of sexual abuse in prison rape victims, as well as investigating and prosecuting offenders of prison rapes, and The Nation Institute of Corrections (NIC) which trains and educate agencies and correction officers to help reduce sexual abuse in prisons.PREA also fought out to protect the Eighth Amendment (cruel and queer punishment not me inflicted) right of local, state and federal prisons. One of the nigh essential results of the PREA was the birth of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC). Perks mission is to study local, state, and federal governm ent policies and practices on sexual misconduct with in prisons. The commission reports their conclusions and findings to The Congress, The President, and many more important agencies pertaining to this issue.NPREC had 9 commissioners, 3 nominate by the president and 6 appointed by congress. Federal judge Reggie Walton was the commissioner. separate appointed members were John Kaneb, pack Aiken, Jamie Felner, Brenda Smith, Gus Puryear, Pat Nolan, and Cindy Struckman-Johnson. Each candidate supplied surveys and in depth analysis of prison rape. Members of the commission research the relationship between prison inmates and the conditions in which they live. There have been other efforts, such as, the House Bill No. 642 chasten to eliminate prison rapes. Connecticut State Representative Pat Dillon says two types of people are usually targeted in prison, Non-Violent offenders and inmates of small stature. Dillon statesthat simple procedure can be done to prevent a rape attack. She q uotes You dont take a 120 pound non-violent offender and put him in a cell with a 200 pound sex offender. On one hand I agree with Dillons conceit of matching cellmates according to stature. But on the other hand I insist that this is not a matter that can be slowly prevented.Yes separating cellmates due to stature works but it will most for certain no solve the ongoing battle with prison rape. It is a much more complicated situation. One of the main thresholds to the ontogeny of the Prison Rape Elimination Act, was a paper released two years earlier by the Human Rights Watch, titled No Escape potent rape in the US. Joanne Marnier was the head author of this paper and had advertisements put in prison magazines such as Prison Legal intelligence operation and Prison Life Magazine.After having these advertisements out, Mariner received letters containing natural accounts of inmates being sexually assaulted and was very detailed. No Escape surveyed prison systems in 34 states. According to No Escape prisons ran by the Texas Department of execrable Justice have the worst incidents of prison rapes. Prior to the release of No Escape there were very few studies of prison rape. This paper is state at the stepping-stone to publicizing how brutal and inhumane these rapes are.In my opinion PREA is a brilliant idea in way to approach this devastating situation, however more need to be done. Because most inmates who were sexually abused will not admit to their abuse, there is a lack in how much help can actually be given. I believe in order to fully solve this prison rape issue, we must first solve the under reported factor of this crime. There have been other organization and movements to stop prison rape. Just Detention International (JDI) is an anti-prison rape organization, created in 1980 by Russell Smith.The original name of the organization was founded as concourse Organized to Stop the Rape of Imprisoned Persons (POSRIP). Due to its expansion with other countries, such as South Africa, Mexico, Canada, and The Philippines, the organization changed their name. According to the Just Detention website the founder, Russell Smith as well as many of them members of the organization were members of prison rape and are not paid for their work with the organization. JDI was formed during a time when prisoner rape was not so popular and wasnt an issue to the public.It was one of the only anti-prison rape groups of its time. JDI played a long role with the Prison Rape Elimination Act and worked with Senators and Representatives. JDI played a prominent role in ensuring the PREA follows through with safety from prison rape. JDI has also helped as support systems for individuals who are recently release from jailed and have survived prison rape. Another supportive organization of anti- prison rape is the Human Rights Watch. HRW was actually even responsible for publishing the No Escape Male Rape in the US.HRW ran several(prenominal) studies on prison rape and concluded that at least 140,000 inmates in United States prisons are most likely to get raped. On the human rights website, many articles are indite targeting prison rape as an issue as well. In conclusion, prison rape has been a growing problem that has been kept under wraps for several decades. Prison rape has not only affected inmates but the public as well. Prison rapes have left inmates with deadly diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis.Victims of prison rape also suffer from psychological disorders and are know to become much more violent and anti social upon release Physical and well as psychological harm to the inmate can spread to the general public upon release. There have been recent efforts to extirpate prison rape such as the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, signed by President George Bush. An important factor ramose out from the PREA is the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, which consisted of 9 individuals who canvass on the ma tter extensively.The commission sought to decline prison rape by visiting prisons and checking up on procedure and making sure the laws passed in the PREA are being played out in prisons. Other non-government organizations have been formed to take a stand against prison rape. Organizations such as Just Detention International and the Human Rights Watch have been a strong force to decline prison rape. Although there have been many efforts to ban these heinous acts, I believe more has to be done because at the end of the day, prison rape is still very existent in todays prisons.