Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future

Sexual assault rates for men in prison extend to 14% who reported sexual victimization in a study
of medium security prison (Arthur, Davis, Herman). In prison, sexual abuse is far more severe and
frequent which give prisoners feelings of helplessness and terror, and increased risk of suicide. It is
difficult for male inmates to report assault because of the harsh repercussions. For instance, if any inmate
tells on another inmate for any wrong doing he is considered a snitch (Arthur, Davis, Herman); when
someone in prison is branded a snitch that inmate is subject to retaliation from all inmates who frown
upon snitches, or that inmate could be assaulted again. Further assault that would lead the inmate to
believe that the only way out of the situation is to keep the wrongful act concealed.
Many victims told Human Rights Watch about their fears of becoming the ―Wife‖ or the ―Kid‖ of
their rapists. A small portion of those victims also spoke out about being forced to partake in sexual
services for a whole gang, for an extended period of time. Prison Staff members often view this as
consensual because the act is not violent, but that is not the case. Of the victims interviewed many of
them said they stopped fighting because it was useless. They were not getting any help so they resigned
themselves to their situations and stopped fighting. Although in some cases the physical force is absent,
mental force is present; which is arguably just as effective if not more (Cronan).
When an inmate is controlled by mental force, close to nothing can be done to break free. After
being mentally drained they have no fight left are easily sold or rented as a sexual slave. They become
brainwashed slaves and a symbol of power for the owner of the sex slave (Mariner, Joanne). ―Sexual
slavery is a form of slavery recognized as such under international law and prohibited under both treaty
law and customary international law. Notably, the crime of slavery does not require government
involvement or State action, and constitutes an international crime whether committed by State actors or
private individuals‖. (Joanne)
For many inmates that are sexually assaulted; rape is the least of their worries. Sure, the inmates
fear the rape, but contracting HIV is the foremost consequence that haunts the inmate; for it may be
deadly. Victims of prison rape face a premature death sentence because of the possibility of contracting
HIV/AIDS, an inadvertent intention of the criminal justice system. Many inmates are injuries don‘t meet
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