(Embrace and Flambeau Correctional Facility sign the MOU to prevent prison rape and provide supportive services to victims)
Press Release - In 2003, the United States Congress unanimously passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The federal civil law addresses sexual abuse and sexual harassment in prisons, jails, and other detention facilities. The legislation called for nationwide data collection on sexual abuse in confinement, and established federal grants to help states combat it.
The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA) along with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide sexual abuse survivors with supportive services. This formal agreement will coordinate efforts between state prisons and local sexual assault service providers to provide sexual abuse survivors with confidential emotional support, hospital accompaniment, and crisis intervention services.
WCASA’s Prison Rape Elimination Coordinator, Rebecca Main, says, “The MOU was released in December 2016 and is being implemented statewide at all Wisconsin prisons, including the Hawkins-based Flambeau Correctional Center in partnership with the local sexual assault services provider, Embrace.”
“This agreement highlights the ongoing collaboration between Embrace and the Flambeau Correctional Center to provide confidential counseling and support services to prison rape survivors,” says Embrace Executive Director, Katie Bement.
One of PREA’s largest achievements was the development of national standards to detect, prevent, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement settings. The PREA standards fueled important changes inside detention facilities and provide safer and more secure facilities for staff, visitors, and inmates. Flambeau Correctional Center (FCC) Superintendent, Brad Hoover, says, “FCC was last audited by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016 and was in compliance with all of the PREA standards.”
Hoover says, “Because of the standards many prisons, including FCC, as well as jails and youth facilities, we now have staff who receive specialized training to investigate sexual abuse and sexual harassment, all corrections officers are routinely trained on how to prevent and respond to this violence.” He continues, “More than 90% of incarcerated individuals are released back to their communities, and providing support for survivors of sexual abuse enhances the abilities of these individuals to successfully transition back into the community.”
Bement says, “Prisoners across the country are being taught about their right to be safe from sexual violence and how they can get help. At FCC, survivors are able to obtain confidential rape crisis services through Embrace’s crisis line as well as in-person trauma counseling at the prison.”
Embrace provides confidential support services and advocacy to all survivors of sexual assault crimes. If you or someone you know needs support, call Embrace 24/7 at 1.800.924.0556.
[Names of individuals in photos from left to right: Cassandra Clark - Embrace Sexual Violence Program Coordinator (Rusk County), Katie Bement - Embrace Executive Director, Kyann Leisner - Crisis Advocate, Brad Hoover - Flambeau Correctional Facility Superintendent]
Last Update: Mar 01, 2017 11:05 am CST
