Wisconsin Prison Rape Elimination Act Initiative

The Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Discretionary Grant Program was created as a result of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (the Act), Public Law 108-79. The goal of the Act is to eradicate sexual assaults in all of the correctional facilities in this country, be they federal, state, or local in nature. Nevertheless, the statutory focus for this grant program is state and local correctional facilities. This program is divided into two parts: (1) Protecting Inmates and (2) Safeguarding Communities. The Protecting Inmates part focuses on providing funding to state and local agencies for the costs of personnel, training, technical assistance, and data collection in the areas of prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of victims of inmate on inmate sexual assault in a correctional facility. The Safeguarding Communities component of the program focuses on assisting the states in developing and implementing strategies when making release decisions for sexual aggressors without compromising public safety and addressing the needs of the victims after release.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections proposes to use its Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities grant to focus on the areas of prevention, investigation and prosecution, and victim services and treatment. The project being proposed will provide opportunities to build off and expand the Department of Corrections existing collaborative efforts with local correctional agencies and criminal justice partners. The goals proposed are based on assessed needs to ensure a coordinated strategy, and include: 1) increasing the Department of Corrections staff and inmate awareness and understanding of prison sexual assault, improving the ability to recognize potentially dangerous situations, and to providing guidance in responding appropriately to prevent the occurrence of sexual assaults; 2) enhancing the investigation and prosecution of prison rape; and, 3) providing appropriate services and treatment for both victims and perpetrators of prison rape within inmate populations.

CA/NCF