Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
What is PREA?
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) establishes a zero-tolerance standard against sexual assaults and rapes of incarcerated persons. It is Public Law 108-79, signed in September 2003 by President Bush.
PREA sets a standard that protects the Eighth Amendment rights of Federal, State and local prisoners -- making the prevention of sexual assault a top priority. It also increases available data on sexual misconduct and sexual assaults, and it increases the accountability for administrators who fail to prevent, reduce, and punish sexual misconduct and sexual assaults.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office supports the prosecution of persons who commit acts of sexual misconduct within its facilities. The Deschutes County Adult Jail (DCAJ) has developed uniform guidelines and procedures to reduce the risk of in-custody sexual assault and sexual activity. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to a zero-tolerance standard for sexual misconduct and sexual assault.
You can learn more about PREA at the Web sites for the National Institute of Corrections and the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission.
PREA Reporting Form
If you were the victim of a sexual assault while in the custody of any law enforcement agency or correctional facility -- or if you know of an incident of sexual assault of a person in the custody of any law enforcement agency or correctional facility -- we urge you to report the incident by using the e-mail form to the right. Your anonymity will be protected. If you fail to report an incident, you could be found to have acted with deliberate indifference towards the victim’s health and/or safety.
All reported incidents will be investigated. You will be contacted, but you may still remain anonymous.
OUTSIDE-AGENCY REPORTING METHOD:
If you wish to report an incident of sexual abuse without directly contacting the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, you may contact Crook County Sheriff's Office, which is not part of our agency.
The Crook County Sheriff's Office is able to receive and immediately forward inmate reports of sexual abuse and sexual harassment to agency officials, allowing the inmate to remain anonymous upon request. The contact information for the Crook County Sheriff's Office:
Crook County Sheriff's Office
Jail PREA Compliance Manager (Sgt. Jim Chapman)
Crook County Jail
308 NE 2nd Street
Prineville, OR 97754
541-416-3620
On the web: http://www.sheriff.co.crook.or.us
