Statewide PREA Initiative

Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003 with unanimous support from both parties. Congress intended that PREA would provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape.

Goals for Montana's PREA Reallocation funds include:

1)„h Seek PREA Resource Center¡¦s assistance in further defining the role of Montana¡¦s PREA specialist;

2) Conduct a second round of preliminary audits at Montana State Prison and Montana Women¡¦s Prison to fine-tune those facilities¡¦ readiness for a federal audit;

3) Commence the federal PREA audit process at the state¡¦s two youth correctional facilities (Riverside and Pine Hills) by September 2015; and

4) Initiate federal PREA audits at the adult facilities (Montana State Prison, Montana Women¡¦s Prison, and Treasure State Correctional Training Center) by August 2016.

NCA/NCF

Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003 with unanimous support from both parties. Congress intended that PREA would provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape.

Statewide Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance has been primarily under the watch of Montana’s Department of Corrections (DOC) and the PREA coordinator. In March 2016, Montana Governor Steve Bullock provided assurances to U.S. Attorney General Lynch, outlining the plan for the Montana DOC to achieve PREA compliance in state correctional facilities within five months. The juvenile justice specialist queried the detention facility administrators and provided them with a list of allowable expenditures. The requests were compiled by the juvenile justice specialist, who worked with DOC staff and juvenile detention administrators to prioritize the expenditures. The goal of this project is to provide each of the four juvenile detention facilities with the materials and equipment they need in order to be compliant with PREA. Monitoring equipment, surveillance cameras, and training videos will be purchased for the sites. Additionally, partial salaries and benefits of two PREA coordinators will be paid for the purpose of working on policies and procedures. Finally, one site requires the printing of PREA brochures. At the end of this grant period it is anticipated that all four of the juvenile detention facilities will have adequate monitoring equipment to ensure that youth are safe from sexual assault while in detention; all four of the juvenile detention facilities will have adequate training videos and literature for staff; all four of the juvenile detention facilities will have adequate PREA literature to educate youth and their families; and at least one of the four juvenile detention facilities will be prepared to pass a PREA audit.

NCA/NCF