Connecticut State Department of Correction

Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA)

National Standards to Prevent, Detect, Deter and Respond to Prison Rape in Confinement Facilities
Public Law 108-79
CFR Part 115

Overview

The intended purpose of these standards is to provide comprehensive guidelines for preventing, detecting, deterring and responding to incidents of sexual abuse and sexual harassment involving inmates in a confinement facility. After a lengthy process that included public review and comment, the Department Of Justice published PREA Standards that dictate administrative and operational procedures for Federal, State and Local Adult Prisons and Jails, Lockups, Community Confinement Facilities and Juvenile Facilities. These PREA Standards became effective on August 20, 2012.

As a result, the Connecticut Department of Correction has issued an Administrative Directive establishing a "ZERO TOLERANCE" policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates. To view the policy click on the following link: Adminitrative Directive 6.12 

The Connecticut Department of Correction:

  • Does not tolerate sexual abuse or sexual harassment of any inmate.
  • Shall work proactively at preventing, detecting, deterring and responding to acts of sexual abuse and sexual harassment involving inmates.
  • Shall ensure that existing practices and new strategies to prevent, detect, deter, and respond to acts of sexual abuse and sexual harassment involving inmates comply with applicable PREA standards.

Auditor's Summary Reports

PREA auditor's summary report for each facility can be found in each facility page. Halfway House reports can be found below or on their individual websites.

Investigation

All complaints of sexual abuse or sexual harassment are considered to be serious incidents that will be thoroughly investigated. The PREA Investigation Unit is in charge of all PREA related investigations and will accept complaints from any concerned individual. If an investigation reveals misconduct of a criminal nature the case will be referred to the Connecticut State Police for additional investigation and possible prosecution. All confirmed incidents can result in administrative sanctions and/or criminal prosecution.

Connecticut Department of Correction PREA Investigations by Facility

PREA Investigations Unit 2018-2021- The PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Investigations Unit was established in June 2013.  This unit is comprised of staff members that are responsible for investigating all allegations of Sexual Abuse within the CT Department of Correction, maintaining statistical information for federal compliance, updating training material for staff and inmates, coordination with in-state and out of state agencies, and coordination with the Victim Advocate office to ensure compliance with the federally mandated PREA Standards.

     The CT Department of Correction promotes a “Zero Tolerance” policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates. The inmate population is able to call a toll free number to report allegations directly to the PREA Investigations Unit, Connecticut State Police, and Victims/Advocate office.  The Victim Advocates office continues to provide the proper support to inmate survivors.

     This unit continuously works together with statewide agencies such as Court Support Services Division, Community Confinement, Department of Children and Families, Security Division, and Parole & Community Services Division to achieve statewide compliance.

     This year the unit has been assisting the Connecticut State Police with the implementation of the PREA standards within their existing lock ups and policies.

     In FY21, the PREA Investigations Unit was assigned 57 cases and has completed 45 of these investigations with determinations of substantiated, unsubstantiated or unfounded.  Through the investigative process, data is collected and complied for the Federal Sexual Victimization survey, CTDOC website statistics and federally mandated audits.  This administrative data collection is based on allegations of sexual victimization by other inmates or staff that are reported to correctional authorities. The collection includes an enumeration of incidents reported to state prison systems, which is inclusive of all state halfway house programs. The statewide PREA Coordinator meets annually with each facility administrator and facility PREA compliance manager.  This technical assistance visit gives on-going training in sustainability and current updates to the PREA requirements.  The CTDOC began the third cycle of US Department of Justice PREA Audits beginning in July 2021 after delay due to the Covid pandemic.

The PREA unit has been working with a DOJ certified auditor to conduct eight facility audits which will be completed by October 2021. This will overlap into the final audits for the audit year of 2021-2022 to complete the third cycle.

 

Inmate on Inmate Sexual Harassment

 

2018

2019

2020

2021

Substantiated

1

1

0

0

Unsubstantiated

6

2

1

2

Unfounded

0

0

0

1

Ongoing Investigation

0

0

0

1

Total:

7

3

1

4

Inmate on Inmate Sexual Abuse

 

2018

2019

2020

2021

Substantiated

4

4

0

1

Unsubstantiated

41

32

10

15

Unfounded

7

3

5

4

Ongoing Investigation

0

0

1

7

Total:

52

39

16

27

Staff Sexual Harassment

 

2018

2019

2020

2021

Substantiated

0

0

0

0

Unsubstantiated

1

2

0

1

Unfounded

1

1

0

0

Ongoing Investigation

0

0

0

0

Total:

2

3

0

1

Staff Sexual Misconduct

 

2018

2019

2020

2021

Substantiated

0

0

1

4

Unsubstantiated

3

3

2

2

Unfounded

5

4

5

3

Ongoing Investigation

0

0

0

2

Total:

8

7

8

11

 

The Connecticut Department of Corrections (CTDOC) has embraced the principles associated with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) and maintains a Zero Tolerance policy for sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates. Even prior to PREA being passed, the CTDOC had taken steps to actively train its staff and inmates on prohibited sexual contact and inappropriate relationships as we worked toward prevention of sexual abuse within our facilities.

After the new Federal PREA standards were passed, the CTDOC was quick to appoint a Department level PREA Coordinator to develop, implement, and oversee the Department’s efforts to comply with the PREA standards. Although Connecticut was already practicing many of the required standards, it was important to complete a gap analysis to identify areas that needed revision to comply with the PREA standards. Once this analysis was completed, a strategic plan was developed to guide our compliance efforts.

CTDOC currently has 13 Prisons and 30 contracted Community Confinement Facilities.  A review of the incident based data collected for these facilities in the years 2018,2019,2020 and 2021 reflected 189 total PREA allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. There were a total of 15 inmate on inmate sexual harassment allegations, 134 inmate on inmate sexual abuse allegations, 6 staff sexual harassment allegations and 34 staff misconduct allegations.

Through working our strategic plan in 2021, we were able to identify problem areas or areas lacking compliance from previous years and bring those areas of non-compliance, into compliance. Some examples of the corrective action and progress made in addressing sexual abuse are the PREA training for all staff, contractors and volunteers. We have made revisions to multiple policies to better guide our staff and offenders regarding incidents of sexual abuse. We have established a PREA Compliance Managers at each facility. We established and implemented both an Internal and External PREA Hotlines to ensure multiple ways to report incidents of sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The CTDOC has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Connecticut Victims Alliance to provide offenders with necessary victim advocate support and the Connecticut State Police who can be contacted by inmates to report an allegation. We have trained PREA investigators within the PREA Unit to conduct PREA investigations throughout the Department. We also have improved areas that allowed more privacy such as adding partial doors and less transparent windows where they were needed.

In comparing the last four years we believe there has been significant growth in the progress made toward PREA Compliance for CTDOC. A review of the incident based data collected for all facilities in 2021 reflected an overall decrease in substantiated allegations and a slight increase in the number of investigations. The above CTDOC numbers reflect that all allegations are taken seriously and investigated.   This demonstrates an increased awareness in the proper reporting procedures. 

To ensure CTDOC is improving our effectiveness on an ongoing basis, all investigations of sexual abuse are reviewed in accordance with 28 CFR § 115.86 to ensure each facility continues to make appropriate changes where needed. The incident reviews of the data collected and aggregated revealed that staff training as well as inmate education warranted corrective actions. CTDOC created a comprehensive program to inform staff and inmates about PREA. This increased awareness of properly responding to and preventing sexual abuse and harassment in facilities under the control of the CTDOC.

 

Director David McNeil

PREA investigation Unit

203-250-8136/ 860-416-4523

Contact Us

PREA Director's Office
Dave McNeil
203-250-8136
945 Highland Ave
Cheshire CT, 06410

PREA Investigation Unit Hotline:

770-743-7783
Additional Information on the Department of Correction PREA Unit can be found at:
PREA Unit page

Additional Resources