The Prison Rape Elimiation ACT requires correctional facilitiesto provide incarcerated survivors with services and support from rape crisis centers. Incarceration facilities are audited every three years to ensure compliance with the PREA standards, the onus to ensure compliance is on the part of the correctional facility, not the rape crisis center or community service provider. Below are the PREA standards relevant to victim advocates and community service providers. Links to the full PREA statute and other related legal documents are also provided. For more information, and to view the entirety of the PREA standards, please visit The PREA Resource Center.

Key PREA Standards for Victim Advocates

  • 115.21 Evidence protocol and forensic medical examinations: Agencies must facilitate inmate accompaniment by a victim advocate, where possible. To read the full standard, click Full Standard Text 115.21
  • 115.53 Inmate access to outside confidential services: Agencies must attempt to enter into MOUs with outside victim advocates; provide inmates with phone and mail access to a rape crisis center and/or other victim advocates. To read the full standard, click Full Standard Text 115.53

Other Relevant PREA Standards

  • 115.51 Inmate reporting: Inmates must have multiple internal ways to report sexual abuse or sexual harassment and at least one option to report externally to a public or private entity or office not affiliated to the correctional agency. To read the full standard, click Full Standard Text 115.51.
  • 115.82 Access to emergency medical and mental health services: Agencies must provide timely, unimpeded access to crisis intervention services. To read the full standard, click Full Standard Text 115.82.
  • 115.83 Ongoing medical and mental health care for sexual abuse victims and abusers: Agencies must provide victimized inmates follow-up services, treatment plans, and referrals for continued care. To read the full standard, click Full Standard Text 115.83.

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