Signs posted throughout Vermont’s prisons encourage victims of sexual misconduct, physical violence and discrimination to dial what’s known as the Offender Reporting Line. “It is never too late to report!” one sign reads. But unlike similar hotlines at prisons throughout the U.S., Vermont’s does not connect to an independent, third-party organization. Rather, callers are directed
Julie Abbate didn’t hesitate when members of the ABA Criminal Justice Section asked her to draft a resolution about prisoners’ access to tampons and sanitary pads in 2018. She had spent most of her 25-year legal career advocating for prisoners’ rights—particularly female prisoners’ rights—and knew from experience that they often lack access to feminine hygiene
More than one in six juvenile prisoners in Ohio reported being forced or coerced into sexual activity with other prisoners or with prison staff members, according to a nationwide survey. State officials say they have upgraded detention centers and increased supervision to help reduce sexual victimization of juvenile offenders. Ohio’s juvenile detention system continues to
A new federal report has found the number of kids who say they have been sexually victimized in juvenile detention centers has dropped across the U.S. compared with past years. But remarkably high rates of sexual abuse persist in 12 facilities stretching from Oregon to Florida, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics report released
It started with too many drinks and an argument over who should clean the house. Zack got angry and landed a punch. His boyfriend grabbed a table leg and hit him in the chest. It ended with the cops at their University City apartment and Zack in handcuffs with one big worry. As a transgender