NYCDOC PREA Grant 2015

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Program provides funding to states, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribes 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. The goal of this program is to assist correctional facilities in implementing comprehensive prevention, identification, and response mechanisms that will reduce the incidence of sexual abuse in confinement facilities; promote a culture of “zero tolerance” toward sexual abuse; and support facilities’ efforts to achieve compliance with the PREA standards.

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) will use awarded PREA funds to continue its multi-agency, system-wide effort to institutionalize policies and practices that support and sustain compliance with PREA standards and the prevention of inmate sexual abuse. The DOC will work in collaboration with a national expert to conduct an initial assessment of current policies, practices, training curricula, tools for monitoring and prevention, and organizational barriers for change; develop a strategic plan for leadership, organizational culture, operational practice, and performance enhancement; implement and support practices that prevent sexual abuse; and support the advancement of national best practices. With the support of a research partner, the DOC will conduct an evaluation to assess and learn from the implementation of these strategies. CA/NCF