Sexual Assaults in Prison - Essay Example

Sexual Assaults in Prison of Introduction Sexual assaults behind the bars have turn out to be a universal human right debacle in collective juvenile facilities, incarceration centers and other prison facilities. Recent studies have established that, more than 20% of the inmates have reported diverse cases of sexual abused during their time in internment. As the number of incarcerated population increases with inadequate correctional facilities, cases of sexual assaults continue to ruin the lives of individuals in the society. Although the level of inmate sexual violation is in public realm, the existing evidence does not coincide with the available strategies to advance the correctional centers management and practices. Even though the rate of imprisonment has increased over the years, most penal settings operate beyond the rated capacities. These lead to the crisis of overcapacity, limited resources and understaffing complications. Sexual assault in prisons has devastating psychological, social, and physical impacts on victims’ welfare. In most cases, the effects of sexual assault are exaggerated by captivity. In some instances, the affected persons face consistent infliction of fear, helplessness, physical assault as well as psychological trauma. The in-house problems in incarcerated centers are at times answerable to increased cases of sexual assaults in the penitentiary (Dumond, 2002). Sexual assaults have long term impacts on individual future growth and development. In addition to psychosomatic and physical harm, prisoners also face the peril of sexually transmitted diseases, depression, medical injuries, stigmatization, labeling, reduced social status, suicidal motivations, post-trauma disorders and reduction in individual esteem and social status. As a result, prisoners, jail administrators and clinicians ought to be aware of the increased cases of psychological and physical sexual acts and cases of victimization. Prison health practitioners should work hand in hand with the administrative staff and security to manage cases of sexual assaults and the subsequent intellectual, psychological and health conditions. Inmates are reported to have the highest level of sexual activity risks, high vulnerability to contagious diseases and highest rate of drug abuse. Prison Staffs and Prisons Sexual Assaults The recent decades have rising cases of sexual assaults and misconducts on female and male inmates by prison staffs. However, not all staffs are involved in these devastating acts. Cases of sexual assault by the staff members on the inmate are sometime accelerated by lack of a well defined boundary between the inmate and the staffs. Some prison staffs are manipulated and forced by prevailing circumstances to have unintended sexual contacts with the inmates. It is also apparent that, the confined woman faces extensive sexual assaults by opportunistic male staff in the correctional facilities. Male members of staff in various prisons are also reported to use regular victimization and terror to coerce the confined women into their sexual escapades. These besmirch the common principle of correctional environment as a place to keep the inmates safe and reformed. There is need for an effective policy to ensure total reduction of inmate intimidation and violation of their basic rights by prison staffs. Coercive sexual assault can take different directions. Sexual assault can either take the form of sexual contact for protection or brutal gang rape. Perpetrators of Prison Sexual Assaults Although it is sometimes extremely intricate to identify the main perpetrators of prison sexual assaults, researchers have identified exceptional characteristics that are common among the notorious perpetrators. The salient characteristics of captive sexual assaults perpetrators include: middle aged prisoners, prisoners who are frequently accused of other offenses while in incarceration, prisoners who have spent some time in juvenile facilities, urban dweller prisoners, prisoners who have committed violent crimes and prisoners who are affiliated with criminal gangs (Lockwood, 2000). Prevalence of Sexual Violence in Prisons There exists no tangible and agreed upon statistics that can elucidate the actual rate of sexual attacks in prisons. This is due to the fact that cases of sexual victimization are complex and variable to make accurate predictions. Additionally, studies and documentation of sexual acts are in most cases compromised by the staffs’ perceptions, collusion to cover up, and the prison environment as well as subculture and inmate codes. The studies on prison sexual offenses are also complicated by social-psychological complexity of the incarcerated populations. However, the available data advocates for effective response to the rising cases of sexual violence in prisons. As opposed to common perception, every inmate is at risk of undergoing an instance of sexual victimization. However, some sections of the incarcerated population are more vulnerable to sexual abuse than others. These population segments include: physically weak people, the young and inexperienced male and female inmates, inmate with mental problem, physically disabled inmate, less tough middlemen inmates, inmates who are not involved in gang activities, overtly effeminate inmate, homosexual convicts, sexual crime inmates and overly disliked inmates. Race is also a common factor in influencing sexual abuse in prisons, especially in areas that are commonly known for racial discrimination (Wooden, and Parker, 2002). Available statistics indicate that more than 12 % of the inmates have reported cases of rape or attempt assault while more than 10% have experienced forced sexual contact. Sexual violence cases are however more apparent in maximum security facilities compared to minimum security services. The few studies conducted in female institutions indicate that, more than 27% of women inmate report higher cases of sexual assaults every year. The most vulnerable people in female institutions are young women and first time prisoners. However, as opposed to male institutions, the inmate-against-inmate cases of sexual assaults among women are very rare (Wooden, and Parker, 2002). Consequences of Sexual Assaults in Prisons People who experience sexual assaults undergo severe social, physical, mental, and psychological problems that include: fear, anger, weak intimate relationship, depression, sexual dissatisfaction and social anxiety. Researches on inmate sexual abuses indicate comparable problems to victims of prisons sexual assaults. Inmate sexual victims experience complications such as suicide ideations, anxiety, post-traumatic stress as well as rape trauma syndrome. However, due to the prevailing condition in incarceration institutions, effects of prison sexual assaults on victims are in most cases more upsetting than outside prison sexual assault victims. Sexual assault victims may experience physical complications that might interfere with their long term health and wellbeing (Fagan, Wennerstrom and Miller, 2006). There are also very high chances of sexually transmitted infections, raising serious health complications in prisons and public health. Experts, Prison Staffs, and Prison Sexual Assaults Due to the increased cases of sexual violation in prisons, the involvement of all players in the prison sector is of great significance. Mental health experts have an incredibly indispensable role in altering the perception of correctional staffs on sexual assault cases and victims. Changing staff perception may to some extent reduce the rate of sexually motivated attacks in prison institutions. Age and education among correctional officers has a considerable influence on controlling the cases of sexual assaults among inmates. According to the available data, young and less educated employees are more likely to have sexual engagement with inmates compared to old and educated people. Consistent staff member training can be a key ingredient to responsive and proactively actions to deal with sexual assault in prison institutions. Prison and other incarceration institution environment also complicate effective care and protection of the victims from sexual assaults. Many prisoners face consistent transfer from one place to another. Clinicians should ensure continuous health and mental care to the transferred victims. The differences between the need of the short term victims and long serving victims should also be clear and distinct. Upon discharge to either the general public or parole, intimate victims should also be provided with effective community intervention and treatment. Prevention of Sexual Assaults in Prison It is no doubt that the problem of sexual assaults in prison is huge and needs to be addressed effectively. Available statistics indicate that nearly 3.5 incarcerated persons are reported to be sexually assaulted by staff or inmates within a period of 12 months (Urban Institute, 2011). The prevalence rate of sexual assault is indeed high and there is need for more effective responses to ensure that just detention is guaranteed and that rights of inmates are not violated in any way. The worrying statistics of sexual violence in prisons expose a systematic and serious failure by the relevant state agencies to protect the fundamental human rights of inmates. There is danger of the inmates to be abused relentlessly and for long period if this problem is not addressed (Blackmore and Zweig, 2008). In jails and prisons across the country, there seem to be little efforts in implementing preventive measures and reports of sexual assaults are frequently ignored. Actually, what is more worrying is the fact that corrections officials participate in or facilitate sexual assaults in prison. Therefore, they may be unwilling or reluctant to implement preventive measures. Also, absence of confidential counseling and confidential expression of assault cases has contributed to difficulty in prevention of sexual assault in prisons (Hensley, 2002). Since sexual assault in prisons amounts to violation of international human rights law, state criminal law, and the United States Constitution, it is important that prevention measures be implemented against this problem. The first way of preventing sexual assault in prisons is by improving supervision. One of the main reasons why sexual assault is rampant in prisons is because of negligent supervision by corrections officers. Inconsistent supervision provides a platform for inmates to engage in prohibited acts including sexual violence (Blackmore and Zweig, 2008). Therefore, in order to prevent sexual assault in prisons, it is critical that jail be designed in such a way that corrections officers would be able to effectively interact with inmates and are able to conduct their rounds as prescribed. Since corrections officers have also been found to commit sexual assaults to inmates, prison administrators should station sensor buttons around the facility to track officers on duty. Thereafter, the administrators should review the data for each shift in order to hold officers accountable. Tracking system will ensure consistent supervision is guaranteed thereby making inmates and corrections officers to reconsider committing assault offences on prisoners. Several studies have shown that improved supervision is important in reducing contraband, sexual violence, and increasing overall safety in corrections facility (Urban Institute, 2011). The second way of preventing sexual assault in prisons is by installing surveillance cameras to increase surveillance and accountability in an effort to deter violence. Installation of surveillance cameras would reduce blind spots in prisons, particularly in areas that have been identified as high risk for suicide attempts and sexual violence (Hensley, 2002). Surveillance cameras have an added benefit of recording sexual violence evidence for monitoring staff conduct and incident investigations. Video footage should be viewed for each incident and randomly selected caption be reviewed each month. Besides, surveillance cameras are essential in providing useful and impartial evidence that can aid the investigation process. Presence of surveillance cameras acts as deterrent to commission of sexual acts as inmates and officers are aware that their actions are monitored (Blackmore and Zweig, 2008). The third way in which sexual assault in prisons can be prevented is through training corrections officers in sexual assaults and crisis intervention. In order to ensure that corrections officers are able to perform their duties effectively and ethically, it is important that they are educated on wide range of issues including about suicide, mental illness, and sexual assault. Also, officers should be trained on how to enhance their interactions with inmates (Urban Institute, 2011). The interactions of the officers and inmates should be aimed at reducing inmates’ frustrations and stress, as well as cutting down on confrontations that may prompt inmates to engage in illegal acts including sexual assaults. Moreover, officers should be trained in how to resolve extreme situations in a calm and non violent manner and how to identify and react to signs of sexual victimization. Various studies have indicated that officers who have been trained in various issues are more likely to prevent illegal acts in corrections facilities than those who have not been adequately trained (Blackmore and Zweig, 2008). Training boosts officers’ skills on jail management, interactions with prisoners, and their surveillance and observations skills. It also increases their confidence in knowing how to respond to crises and problems in prisons, as well as improving their knowledge and attitudes relating to issues such as mental health, suicide, and sexual assault. Several findings on the effectiveness of training of officers on prison issues show that it is the most promising strategy of helping correction officers to defuse situations that are potentially violent (Hensley, 2002). The above-mentioned prevention measures to sexual assaults in prisons are core to ensuring just detention devoid of sexual assault and other illegal acts that violate inmates’ rights. In order to ensure that the measures are implemented effectively and achieve commendable outcomes, it is important to identify the inherent causes and develop ways of addressing them under the wider context of the prison culture (Blackmore and Zweig, 2008). Strategies that are evidence-based should be used in addressing the particular vulnerabilities and needs of prisons. In addition, these strategies should be fit into the overall system of best practices for designing jails and supervising, managing, and classifying inmates. More importantly, interventions should be evaluated continually and changes made where necessary. Since sexual and physical violence are often interconnected, assessment of both is crucial. In a bid to address the underlying causes of sexual assaults within the wider culture of prison culture, corrections administrators need to adopt a zero tolerance policy about consensual sex between inmates and staff sexual misconduct. This is because both of these are potential triggers for sexual violence and has the potential of masking more serious sexual force or coercion (Urban Institute, 2011). In addition, the underlying causes of sexual assault can be addressed within the broader context of prison culture by preventing contraband. Prevention of contraband in corrections facilities can significantly reduce sexual assaults in those facilities. This is because focusing on the issue of contraband help address staff misconduct, due to the fact that contraband is considered as an indication of security breaches. Inmates should also be allowed to adequately access mental health care and get medicine as a way of addressing the underlying causes of sexual assault (Hensley, 2002). Inability of the inmates to get mental health care and medicine can potentially lead to self-harm or violence, and therefore prisons should improve on the access and quality of correctional health care. Additionally, there is need for improvement of the quality of staff by motivating and training them to act professionally. Related to that, is the need for developing and implementing performance and accountability measures (Blackmore and Zweig, 2008). In conclusion, it is evidently clear from the discussion that sexual assault in prisons is a major problem that needs to be addressed. As has been noted, the available data on sexual assault in prisons indicate that the situation is worrying and needs to be addressed urgently. There are various dimensions of sexual assault in prisons and they include inmate-on-inmate sexual harassment, staff-on-inmate sexual assault, and inmate-on-inmate sexual abuse. All the dimensions of sexual assault in prisons amount to violation of inmates rights as enshrined in international laws and the United States Constitution. Therefore, there is need to prevent this problem to ensure that just detention is guaranteed and the rights of inmates are not violated in anyway. As mentioned, main prevention measures include improving supervision within corrections facilities, installation of surveillance cameras ion prisons, and training officers in prison management issues such as sexual assault and crisis intervention. References Blackmore, J., & Zweig, J. (2008). Developing State Prison Policies to Respond to Sexual Violence. Corrections Today, 70(4), 78-81. Dumond, R. (2002). The sexual assault of male inmates in incarcerated settings. International Journal of the Sociology of Law, 20(2), 135-157. Fagan, T.,Wennerstrom, D., and Miller, J. (2006). Sexual assault of male inmates: Prevention, identification and intervention. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 3(1), 49-65. Hensley, C. (2002). Prison sex: Practice and policy. Boulder, Colombia: Lynne Rienner. Lockwood, D. (2000). Prison sexual violence. New York, NY: Elsevier North-Holland.PRINT Urban Institute. (2011). Preventing Violence and sexual Assault in Jail:A situational Crime Prevention Approach. Retrieved on 08 September, 2012 from http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412458-Preventing-Violence-and-Sexual-Assault- in-Jail.pdf Wooden, W. and Parker, J. (2002). Men behind bars: Sexual exploitation in prison. New York, NY: Plenum. Print. Read More