Module 7 Inside and Out – Women and Abuse in Prison Prevalence in Adult Facilities Graphic by Just Detention International. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization Reported By Former State Prisoners, 2008,“ May 12, 2012. Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in Prisons and Jails Roughly 200,000 people are sexually abused behind bars every year in the U.S. Perpetrators in Prisons and Jails Graphic by Just Detention International. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-2012,“ May 12, 2013. Frequency of Sexual Abuse Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization Reported By Former State Prisoners, 2008,“ May 12, 2012. Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in Colorado Facilities Most Colorado corrections facilities that were surveyed have rates of sexual abuse at, or slightly below, national levels. Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (pictured above) has some of the highest rates of sexual abuse in the country. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-2012,“ May 12, 2013. What groups of people do you think are most likely to be targeted for sexual abuse in jail? Perpetrators tend to target: • Women • People with mental illness • Survivors of sexual abuse • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) inmates • People incarcerated for violent sexual offenses Vulnerable Inmates • Is an act of violence — even without any physical force • Is used to establish and maintain power or control • Exists on a continuum of varying degrees of severity Sexual Abuse Consent in a Custody Setting Consensual Sex Among Inmates vs. Sexual Assault Unlawful Sexual Contact VICTIM SUSPECT Inmate Sex INMATE INMATE FELONY (PREA) RULE VIOLATION Incidence of Inmate-on-Inmate Sexual Abuse • Sexual harassment • Protective pairing • Exchanges/favors • Ritual/gang abuse • Sexual abuse in romantic relationships Dynamics of Inmate-on-Inmate Sexual Abuse • Sexual harassment • Voyeurism/flashing • Exchanges/favors • Abuse during searches • Perceived romantic relationships Staff-on-Inmate Sexual Abuse Common Methods Used by Perpetrators • Sexual abuse is one of the most traumatic forms of criminal victimization. • Survivors often experience intense fear, horror, and helplessness. • Abuse is often perpetrated by someone the victim knows. Sexual Trauma Survivors may experience: • Numbness • Shock • Confusion • Disbelief • Helplessness • Fear • Anger • Guilt • Grief • Frustration • Disorientation • Racing heart beat and other signs of physical arousal or agitation Initial Reactions to Sexual Abuse Trauma can impair: • Basic functioning • Cognition • Memory • Health • Relationships Impact of Trauma Survivors have an increased risk of: • Depression • Post-Traumatic Stress Dis ...

1. Module 7
Inside and Out – Women and
Abuse in Prison
Prevalence in Adult Facilities
Graphic by Just Detention International. Source: Bureau of
Justice
Statistics, "Sexual Victimization Reported By Former State
Prisoners,
2008,“ May 12, 2012.
Prevalence of Sexual Abuse
in Prisons and Jails
Roughly 200,000 people are sexually
abused behind bars every year in the U.S.
Perpetrators in Prisons and Jails
Graphic by Just Detention International. Source: Bureau of
Justice Statistics, "Sexual
Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2011-
2012,“ May 12, 2013.

2. Frequency of Sexual Abuse
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization
Reported By Former State Prisoners, 2008,“ May 12, 2012.
Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in
Colorado Facilities
Most Colorado
corrections facilities that
were surveyed have
rates of sexual abuse
at, or slightly below,
national levels.
Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (pictured
above) has some of the highest rates of sexual abuse
in the country.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Victimization in
Prisons and Jails Reported by
Inmates, 2011-2012,“ May 12, 2013.
What groups of people do
you think are most likely to
be targeted for sexual
abuse in jail?

3. Perpetrators tend to target:
• Women
• People with mental illness
• Survivors of sexual abuse
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
inmates
• People incarcerated for violent sexual offenses
Vulnerable Inmates
• Is an act of violence — even without any
physical force
• Is used to establish and maintain power or
control
• Exists on a continuum of varying degrees
of severity
Sexual Abuse
Consent in a Custody Setting
Consensual Sex Among Inmates

4. vs. Sexual Assault
Unlawful Sexual
Contact
VICTIM
SUSPECT
Inmate Sex
INMATE
INMATE
FELONY
(PREA)
RULE
VIOLATION
Incidence of Inmate-on-Inmate
Sexual Abuse
• Sexual
harassment
• Protective pairing

5. • Exchanges/favors
• Ritual/gang abuse
• Sexual abuse in
romantic
relationships
Dynamics of Inmate-on-Inmate
Sexual Abuse
• Sexual harassment
• Voyeurism/flashing
• Exchanges/favors
• Abuse during
searches
• Perceived romantic
relationships
Staff-on-Inmate Sexual Abuse
Common Methods Used by
Perpetrators
• Sexual abuse is one of the most traumatic
forms of criminal victimization.

6. • Survivors often experience intense fear,
horror, and helplessness.
• Abuse is often perpetrated by someone the
victim knows.
Sexual Trauma
Survivors may experience:
• Numbness
• Shock
• Confusion
• Disbelief
• Helplessness
• Fear
• Anger
• Guilt
• Grief
• Frustration
• Disorientation

7. • Racing heart beat
and other signs of
physical arousal or
agitation
Initial Reactions to Sexual Abuse
Trauma can impair:
• Basic functioning
• Cognition
• Memory
• Health
• Relationships
Impact of Trauma
Survivors have an increased risk of:
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
• Sexually
transmitted
infections, including
HIV

8. • Alcohol/drug abuse
• Health problems
• Worsening of
psychiatric
disorders
• Self-harm
• Suicide attempts
• Recidivism
Long-term Impact of Sexual
Trauma
Impact of Incarceration on
Survivors
Being incarcerated compounds the effects of
sexual trauma, including feelings of fear,
hopelessness, and isolation.
Image courtesy of Just Detention International
Survivors of sexual abuse
behind bars:
• Often experience events
that recreate some aspect

9. of the initial trauma
• Have little control over their
bodies and surroundings
• May have limited access to
medical, mental health, and
rape crisis services
Retraumatization
Michelle is a survivor of
sexual abuse in jail.
Photo courtesy of Just
Detention International.
Survivors of sexual abuse behind bars are
often:
• Placed in isolated housing after reporting
• Punished for normal reactions that are
seen as “acting out”
• Retaliated against by inmates and staff
Isolation and Punishment
Survivors of sexual abuse behind bars:
• Are likely to have ongoing contact with

10. perpetrator(s)
• May be seen as “easy targets”
• May be re-victimized multiple times
Revictimization