Sexual Assault on Female Prisoners

Sexual abuse of women in prison is a serious crime as the report entails. It is a positive endeavor for the prison staff and procedures to be under scrutiny as to a get a full grasp of this serious problem. This is an older report but does bring to light important issues to be delved into. There is the problem that sexual abuse exists in the prison system by correctional staff and there is the fact that the staff just resigned and does not reflect justice for the women as should be forth coming. The good news about this report is that a problem has been acknowledged and is under investigation. There are different ways that new policies and procedures and security measures could be implemented to stop this problem.

Now let one look at the fact that was an investigation. This great because one needs to consider the elements involved such as fear of retaliation and fear of not being believed, as well as other measures that could happen.

A good example is that a female prisoner is being sexually abused by a staff such as guard. Picture this. An inmate named Janet Smith is being sexually raped by a guard at an prison. She is not consenting and of course this against prison policy any way which makes it a crime.

Let one say as a good example that a female inmate named Sally Smith has been getting sexually abused by a guard but is afraid to make a formal complaint because he has told her that she will be wrote up for a prison infraction and put into solitary confinement. He has also added that this will go against her parole hearing which is coming up. Let one add that she is afraid they will not believe her so she will not receive a rape kit to confirm the issue and crime against her. This brings it down to procedures and polices to take care of this issue.

New procedures and polices should entail exactly the procedure for a grievance and the investigation process. A review board to be assigned to look at such cases and rule on them Known objectives and punishment should be strong as these persons have these women in their custody and they are a professional criminal justice staff and are accountable for criminal acts as they have a far greater understanding of the process and results. Therefore resignation is not enough. A thorough process for investigation should prove the guilty as well as prove the innocence of the ones falsely accused.

It is not part of a females sentence to be assaulted by a criminal justice staff as the judge has passed sentence. It is crucial that staff of the criminal justice system not become criminals their selves as this is a breach of professionalism as well as believing in “justice for all”.