Webinars

Getting Down to Basics: An Overview of Sexual Abuse in Jails

“Getting Down to Basics: An Overview of Sexual Abuse in Jails” provides advocates with a better understanding of the crisis of sexual abuse in jails — and offer guidance on how to help inmates who have survived this violence. The session focuses on the new opportunities for expanding services for inmate survivors of sexual abuse afforded by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) national standards. The standards, which were finalized in May  2012, require that jails give inmates who report sexual abuse access to victim advocates. They also mandate that corrections agencies partner with community-based organizations to ensure comprehensive medical and mental care for survivors.

The webinar provides an overview of the crisis of sexual abuse in jails, outlining the factors that make this violence so prevalent, as well as its devastating impact on survivors. Participants have an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of sexual abuse in jail from JDI Survivor Council members. The webinar also features JDI staff who have worked extensively to ensure services for incarcerated survivors.