The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), passed in 2003 with final standards passing in 2012, is a federal law that enforces a "zero-tolerance" policy for sexual harassment, assault, and rape in correctional facilities. Its core message is clear: rape is not part of the punishment for being incarcerated.
There are two key PREA standards important for victim advocates:
Understanding these standards helps advocates better support survivors and fulfill their role effectively. Learn more about the PREA standards to see how they guide advocacy work.
Understanding how sexual abuse occurs in detention and learning to support incarcerated survivors are essential skills for advocates. MCASA offers an online library with webinars and other trainings to help advocates respond effectively to sexual assault in correctional settings. These resources provide tools and guidance for offering the best possible care and support to incarcerated survivors.
Advocates are not required to follow PREA. However, correctional facilities often partner with rape crisis centers to meet PREA standards, ensuring incarcerated survivors can access outside sexual assault services. To help rape crisis centers navigate these partnerships, MCASA has created a model memorandum of understanding (MOU). This resource includes sample language and guidance on key considerations for establishing effective agreements.
For more information on MCASA’s model MOU and roadmap, please email [email protected] or call 301-328-7023.
