August 1, 2005 National human rights organization Stop Prisoner Rape (SPR) welcomed the release on Sunday, July 31, 2005, of the U.S. Department of Justice’s first statistical report on prisoner rape, while cautioning that the report findings represent only the tip of the iceberg. The government report, which covers formal complaints filed by inmates, found
August 15, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO – Inmates across the country live in constant fear of being sexually assaulted, either by fellow prisoners or by corrections officials. For those most at risk – small, young, first-time offenders, gay and transgender individuals, and the mentally ill – life behind bars frequently turns into a nightmare of abuse
September 8, 2005 SACRAMENTO, CA – On September 7, the California Senate and Assembly passed the Sexual Abuse in Detention Elimination Act (AB 550), taking the state’s first major step toward becoming a national leader in the fight to end prisoner rape. “The passage of this law is a significant milestone for California, finally giving
September 22, 2005 SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Sexual Abuse in Detention Elimination Act (AB 550), which passed the California Legislature on September 7. The legislation, now cited as Chapter 303, Statutes of 2005, lays the foundation for California, which runs the largest prison system in the country, to be a
December 14, 2005 LOS ANGELES – Stop Prisoner Rape (SPR), a national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence behind bars, has appointed two veteran human rights professionals to serve as Co-Executive Directors. “The appointment of Lovisa Stannow and Kathy Hall-Martinez will add even greater momentum to SPR’s uniquely important work,” said T.J. Parsell,