60,000 Inmates Sexually Abused Every Year

(AP)  A federal commission on prison rape has concluded that the risk of being attacked depends greatly on the type of prisoner, and where the inmate is locked up.

More than 60,000 inmates are sexually abused every year, according to a report being made public Tuesday by the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission. The eight-member panel was formed under the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Based on a 2007 survey of tens of thousands of incarcerated people, 4.5 percent of those surveyed reported being sexually abused in the previous 12 months - and more prisoners claimed abuse by staff than by other inmates.

Among the key findings of the report aimed at reducing the amount of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse behind bars, the panel found:

Who gets abused depends a great deal on where they are incarcerated. Ten facilities studied had high rates, between 9 percent and almost 16 percent, whereas six facilities reported no abuse at all for the past year. The commission said prison management must show leadership in stopping such abuse.

Inmates in jails reported fewer instances of rape than in prisons.

Inmates who were short, young, gay or female were more likely to be victimized than other inmates.

To fight the problem, the commission says prison authorities should adopt more internal monitoring and external oversight. They also say prison officials need to improve investigation of claims of sexual assault and rape, because currently many victims cannot safely and easily come forward.

After the prison rape report is sent to Congress, the attorney general is to create new national standards for detecting and preventing rape and sexual assault in prisons, jails and detention facilities.

[ThaiMealBox]

We read everyday where people are incarcerated even when there is insuffcient evidence, but moreso when they cannot post bond. That is when it happens alot as well. No money and many sit for weeks. Scary isn't it? <a href="http://www.clicksbooking.com/" title="Cheap Thailand Hotels">Thailand Hotels</a>

[BOSSCASH77]

I kind of agree with your comments luke_4u. Some people don't think. The first thing they should ask theirself is how would they feel if they were raped. Second is you are in jail to pay for a mistake you made. Not to be abused. Check out this article and I think it will awaken a lot of people.
"Imprisoning the American poor" ,http://mondediplo.com/1998/07/14prison . Over 5.4million in US Jails. There is something terrible wrong with that number when you consider we only had 380,000 in 1975. This should be the next problem for the white house to solve after the Health Care Issue.
BOSSCASH77

[John_Merritt]

We read everyday where people are incarcerated even when there is insuffcient evidence, but moreso when they cannot post bond. That is when it happens alot as well. No money and many sit for weeks. Scary isn't it?

[hungry1968-15]

"Report: Short, Young, Gay Or Female Inmates More Likely To Be Victimized Than Other Prisoners"





(sarcasm)
Gee, does this mean that some weight lifting, 6' 8", 300 lb thug is less likely to get raped than a 5' 3", 100 lb weakling? Who would have thought it could happen?!?!
(/sarcasm)

Brilliant headline, geniuses!!

[luke_4u]

Real smart Kintari, you too michellereducf. Stupid. Part of the problem in our "prison happy" society is, not enough staff and prison overcrowding. It seems as though too many people want to see everybody in prison every time a pin drops, but they don't want to pay for the staff it takes to run those prisons right. And of course the judges ignore alternatives to prison, because they don't want to appear soft on crime. For those judges that are elected rather than appointed, this is all they think about. People that are incarcerated for non violent victimless piddly BS offenses, don't need to be locked up, there are alternatives. Also, as much as I hate to say it, for fear of being thought of as a racist, the mixing of races within the prison system isn't exactly the best idea. But anymore these days, you've got to be politically correct, so that'll never change. Some of the answers are right there in front of us, but nobody has the gonads to stand up and take charge. We let the cops, the prosecutors and the judges run rampant, and then wonder why we have problems.

[rwsmith29456]

Another good reason to stay out of jail, unless you like that sort of thing.

[toldyouso29]

The amount of abuse actually going on and the amount reported and allowed to be tallied in an article are two very different things. Multiply the rapes in prison by about 5 times the amount reported to get an accurate number. Because no matter what kind of survey, many who have been victimized dare not ever, EVER admit it while in prison--because to tell, even in an anonymous survey, could invite retaliation or even worse situations.

Prison rape is a way of life inside, practices by the prison bosses and the prison staff--it is not considered "rape" by the perps--but an indoctrination into the prison mindset and lifestyle and once a new fish is made a 'wife' they stay a wife with the info of their rape following them even if they change prisons.

[michellereducf]

good point. don't break the law.

[Kintari]

Avoid going to prison.

[mcintoshlou]

WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN POLICE STATE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

CONSERVATIVE REPUBLI'CON's EVERYWHERE,

REPUBLI'CON's ARE NAZI WAR MONGERS

[TPS2]

pythoncharley, benningsschoolforboys, mcintoshlou or whatever you are calling yourself this week, you really need to get over the whole REPUBLICON NAZI UNAMERICAN WAR MONGERS thing. This article has absolutely nothing to do with a political party. If you took the time to educate yourself, you would realize the Democrats and Republicans neither one are worth a damn. Both parties seek only to further the agendas of whatever group or groups who furnished the most money to get them elected. Aside from all of the forementioned, your posts are ignorant and tiresome to those of us who do wish to discuss issues intelligently. Give it a rest, and while you are doing so, expand your vocabulary. Same posts every article every time, learn a few more words. Start slowly and work on it, I am sure something will come to you.