P-04-9 Sexual Transgressive Behavior Towards Staff Members in Flemish Prisons

Abstract

Much attention was given to sexual transgressive behavior(STB) in various sectors and social media under the name #MeToo. We investigated STB from prisoners to staff members in Flemish prisons. What is the prevalence of STB? How did the victims deal with this? What were possible motives for setting STB? How could the prevalence be influenced? A questionnaire was presented to staff members in 8 Flemish prisons in 2018. Of 236 respondents, aged between 19 and 64years, 37% were male and 63% female. Over the past 5 years 50% experienced some form of STB; 37% of them experienced sexual comments, 36% were intimidated, 25% were stared at sexually or sexual movements were made to them or other non-verbal behaviors were experienced, 12% were touched unwanted, 7% were forced to look at sexual acts or sexually tinted images. Only 1% attempted to have sexual intercourse or anal sex with them. Nobody was forced to perform or allow oral sex, fingering or masturbation, nor anyone to have sexual intercourse or anal sex. Respondents who worked less time in prison, female or young staff members were more often victims of STB. The main motive for STB was macho-behavior of the prisoners. The (re)action afterwards was mostly being assertive towards the prisoner. Victims usually got support from their colleagues, not from the management. After the bad experience about half of the respondents demanded legal consequences for the detainees or professional help. A fourth of the victims needed training or support to deal with STB.