2023 PREA

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Intergovernmental Services (DFA-IGS) will utilize the PREA reallocation funds for the following goals: work toward certifying full compliance of the PREA National Standards for state and local confinement facilities in Arkansas; increase staff capacity for preventing sexual abuse in confinement facilities; promote integration of the PREA Standards into agency policies and procedures, and the day-to-day operations of confinement facilities; and create cultures of “zero tolerance” of sexual abuse in confinement facilities. The Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Intergovernmental Services will pass through the funding on as a disbursement/reimbursement basis to PREA subrecipients (confinement facilities). PREA Fiscal Year 2023 reallocation funds will be utilized to support the following activities: collecting and reviewing data related to sexual victimization, auditing and undergoing corrective action. The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) required federal, state, and local institutions to detect, deter, and respond to sexual abuse in all confinement settings. Currently, Arkansas is not PREA compliant. The goals of both the Division of Youth Services (DYS) and the Arkansas Department of Correction (DOC) are to provide safety for citizens housed in their facilities. By reallocating funds to DYS and DOC, the departments will improve their goal of being fully PREA compliant. DYS plans to utilize funds to reach the overarching goal of becoming PREA compliant, while the DOC’s goals are specified. The DOC intends to use reallocated funds to hire external auditors to conduct PREA audits. In conclusion, by distributing funds to DYS and DOC, it is our belief that both departments will have the capability to progress towards full PREA compliance.