Oregon PREA Project FY22

The Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) and the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) are requesting 2022 reallocation funds to support compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and strengthen the PREA program for fiscal year 2022.

The Oregon PREA Demonstration Grant Project will build upon previous and ongoing agency efforts to reduce sexual violence in Oregon facilities by undertaking efforts to prevent and respond to prison rape more effectively.

Three ODOC facilities were included in the BJS report, “Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011–12.” Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF), a female prison housing 1,759 inmates, had the highest rate (10.8%) of reported sexual abuse of the three facilities surveyed. The average rate of reported abuse for the three prisons is 5.6%, which is above the national average of 4%. Since the BJS survey was only completed at three facilities, it is unclear what other ODOC institutions are at high risk, but the Oregon State Penitentiary is the maximum-security prison and has a significant amount of PREA allegations.

Five OYA facilities were included in a recent BJS report, “Sexual Victimization Reported by Youth in Juvenile Facilities, 2018.” Both Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility (YCF) (14.3%) and Rogue Valley YCF (10.3%) surpassed the national average of reported sexual victimization of 6.6% for females and 7.1% for males. Since the BJS survey was only completed at five of OYA’s facilities, it is unclear what other institutions are at high risk. These grant funds would serve all nine of OYA’s facilities, including Oak Creek YCF and Rogue Valley YCF, to ensure facilities are sexually safe environments for residents.

This application targets areas important to OYA and ODOC to increase sexual safety and continued compliance with the standards.

The project will allow ODOC to modify the open communal shower at the Oregon State Penitentiary, ODOC’s only maximum-security prison in Oregon.  The outdated architecture provides Adults in Custody (AICs) no privacy from one another, or from the staff that supervise them.  This project would ensure privacy barriers are installed to allow for privacy.  The proposed activities include parts/materials needed to ensure the project is completed.  ODOC plans to utilize existing Physical Plant staff at the facility to supervise the project and oversee AICs doing the work.

This project will allow OYA to further train and educate OYA staff on sexual abuse and harassment prevention and response, and to promote a safe work environment free from sexual abuse and harassment. In doing so, to advance compliance with Public Law 108-79 Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), and with OYA policy Preventing, Detecting, and Responding to Youth Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment.