PREVENT, DETECT, RESPOND

to RAPE in Confinement Settings

PREA – What is PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act)?

PREA stands for the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on Sept. 4, 2003.  The final regulatory standards to implement PREA went into effect on Aug. 20, 2012.

The department takes very seriously its PREA responsibilities in order to ensure public safety, secure correctional facilities and a safe environment for all offenders.

What is the purpose of PREA?

PREA is intended to address the detection, prevention, reduction and prosecution of sexual harassment and sexual assault in all correctional facilities in the country.

To what facilities does PREA apply?

PREA applies to all confinement facilities in the state. This includes all prisons, jails, police lock-ups, juvenile facilities, Immigration detention centers, court holding facilities, and community corrections facilities (home monitoring, probation, parole, half-way houses).

Methods of Reporting for Inmates:

• Verbal or written report to any staff member.
• Submission of a DC-135A, Inmate Request to Staff Member.
• Incidents of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and retaliation can be reported in writing by sending correspondence through the mail to the BCI/PREA Coordinator at
  1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
• Request more information from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape,
  P.O. Box 400, Enola, PA 17025.

Methods of Reporting for Staff, Contractors and Volunteers:

• Verbal report to the Security Captain or Shift Commander.
• Submission of a written Incident/Extraordinary Occurrence report.

Statistical Data

• Download 2018 PREA Statistical Data (DOCX)
• Download 2017 PREA Statistical Data (DOCX)
• Download 2016 PREA Statistical Data (DOCX)
• Download 2015 PREA Statistical Data (DOCX)
• Download 2014 PREA Statistical Data (DOCX)

Audit reports

• Download 2017 PREA Audit Report (PDF)
• Download 2016 PREA Audit Report (PDF)