MCSO PREA Demonstration Project

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Program provides funding to states, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribes to support comprehensive approaches within state, tribal, and local adult and juvenile correctional facilities to prevent, detect, and respond to incidences of sexual victimization. The PREA Program provides funding to eligible applicants for demonstration projects within confinement settings, including adult prisons and jails; juvenile facilities; community corrections facilities; law enforcement lockups and other temporary holding facilities; and tribal detention facilities. Applicants must successfully communicate a comprehensive approach to the prevention, detection, and response to the incidence of sexual abuse and clearly prioritize gaps which are as of yet unaddressed, either programmatically or through changes in policy and procedures, as they relate to implementation of the PREA standards. The goal of this program is to assist local adult and juvenile facilities in implementing prevention, identification, and response mechanisms that will reduce the incidence of sexual abuse in confinement facilities.

Maricopa County will use FY 2014 PREA funds to: 1) develop trauma-informed victim support services that comply with the national PREA standards and adhere to best practices; 2) build staff's capacity to increase safety for vulnerable inmates; and 3) ensure that policies and practices are sufficient to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and comply with the PREA standards. Funding will also be used to support an external evaluation of the project's activities, strategies, and accomplishments.

CA/NCF