I. INTRODUCTIONWhen photos of United States (U.S.) militarypers<strong>on</strong>nel sexually abusing <strong>and</strong> humiliatingIraqi pris<strong>on</strong>ers hit the newsst<strong>and</strong>s in April2004, the American public was appalled.In testim<strong>on</strong>y before C<strong>on</strong>gress, Secretary ofDefense D<strong>on</strong>ald Rumsfeld described whathappened at Abu Ghraib as “fundamentallyun-American.” 1 Sadly, Mr. Rumsfeld waswr<strong>on</strong>g.“<strong>Sexual</strong> violence in pris<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sists not <strong>on</strong>ly in directvictimizati<strong>on</strong>, but also in the daily knowledge thatit’s happening. It approaches legitimacy in the sensethat it’s tolerated. Those who perpetuate these actsof violence often receive little or no punishment. Tothat extent al<strong>on</strong>e, correcti<strong>on</strong>s officials render theseacts acceptable. At the same time, we can’t expecta rape victim to report it if he anticipates a lack ofresp<strong>on</strong>siveness, a lack of sensitivity or basic protecti<strong>on</strong>by those who are charged with his care.”– T.J. Parsell, pris<strong>on</strong>er rape survivor <strong>and</strong> President of Stop Pris<strong>on</strong>er Rape. Testim<strong>on</strong>ybefore the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> Pris<strong>on</strong> Rape Eliminati<strong>on</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong> (August 19, 2005).The reality is that sexual abuse in detenti<strong>on</strong>is a widespread, systemic problem in U.S.detenti<strong>on</strong> facilities. The U.S. government’sSec<strong>on</strong>d Periodic Report to the Committee Against Torture (CAT Committee) asserts thatwhen “unfortunate instances” of such abuse occur, they are promptly <strong>and</strong> thoroughlyinvestigated <strong>and</strong> referred for prosecuti<strong>on</strong>. 2 Unfortunately, that is not the case. On thec<strong>on</strong>trary, pris<strong>on</strong>er rape is arguably the most widespread <strong>and</strong> neglected form of human rightsabuse in the U.S. today.According to the best available research, <strong>on</strong>e in five male inmates faces sexual assault behindbars. 3 While estimated rates of sexual abuse at women’s pris<strong>on</strong>s vary widely, at the worstfacilities, as many as <strong>on</strong>e in four pris<strong>on</strong>ers is victimized. 4 The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)produced a report in July 2005, based solely <strong>on</strong> administrative records of reported incidents,which found that 8,210 allegati<strong>on</strong>s of sexual assault were reported at pris<strong>on</strong>s, jails, <strong>and</strong> juvenilefacilities in 2004, of which nearly 2,100 were substantiated. 5Rape in detenti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stitutes torture under the United Nati<strong>on</strong>s C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> Against Torture<strong>and</strong> Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). 6 Other formsof sexual assault <strong>and</strong> harassment in detenti<strong>on</strong> may c<strong>on</strong>stitute cruel, inhuman or degradingtreatment, in which case they also amount to violati<strong>on</strong>s of the CAT <strong>and</strong> other provisi<strong>on</strong>s ofinternati<strong>on</strong>al human rights law. 7 Although the U.S. has recognized that rape in pris<strong>on</strong> violatesthe U.S. C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>, the government has failed to comply fully with its treaty obligati<strong>on</strong>s.In general, there is a lack of serious governmental effort to address sexual violence behind bars,both in terms of proactive preventi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> redress for victims. In particular, correcti<strong>on</strong>s officialsare rarely held accountable for sexual violence that occurs <strong>on</strong> their watch.This report first provides a brief overview of the legal framework that exists in the U.S. toaddress pris<strong>on</strong>er rape. It then examines the following three core problems related to sexualviolence in detenti<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> provides recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> how to address them:<str<strong>on</strong>g>STOP</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>PRISONER</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>RAPE</str<strong>on</strong>g>3
1. Systemic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s give rise to pris<strong>on</strong>er rape, including: over-incarcerati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong>overcrowding; lack of proper inmate classificati<strong>on</strong>; <strong>and</strong> a pris<strong>on</strong> ‘code of silence’;2. Certain populati<strong>on</strong>s are especially vulnerable to sexual assault in detenti<strong>on</strong>,including: first-time, n<strong>on</strong>-violent offenders; youth; gay <strong>and</strong> transgender inmates;<strong>and</strong> detainees in the custody of the U.S. Immigrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> Customs Enforcement(ICE); <strong>and</strong>3. In the aftermath of a sexual assault in detenti<strong>on</strong>, survivors are faced with furthervictimizati<strong>on</strong>, including: the absence of basic c<strong>on</strong>fidentiality st<strong>and</strong>ards withindetenti<strong>on</strong> facilities; inadequate grievance procedures; <strong>and</strong> a lack of access toeffective legal remedies.This report is intended to provide the United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Committee AgainstTorture (CAT Committee) with additi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning theSec<strong>on</strong>d Periodic Report of the government of the United States to the CATCommittee.The report was written by Stop Pris<strong>on</strong>er Rape (SPR), a n<strong>on</strong>-governmentalhuman rights organizati<strong>on</strong> based in Los Angeles, California. SPR worksto end sexual violence against men, women, <strong>and</strong> youth held in all forms ofdetenti<strong>on</strong> within the U.S. To achieve this goal, SPR seeks to: engender policiesthat ensure instituti<strong>on</strong>al accountability for pris<strong>on</strong>er rape; change ill-informed<strong>and</strong> flippant public attitudes toward sexual assault behind bars; <strong>and</strong> promoteaccess to resources for survivors of this type of violence.4IN THE SHADOWS: <strong>Sexual</strong> Violence in U.S. Detenti<strong>on</strong> Facilities