Prison Warden Attitudes Toward Prison Rape and Sexual Assault

Abstract

This study examines the attitudes and beliefs of U.S. state prison wardens toward prison rape since the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), signed into law in 2003. PREA mandates a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assaults within correctional systems and requires comprehensive collection of national data on prison rape and sexual assault. Prison wardens play a key role in the implementation and enforcement of prison policies and it is important to assess their attitudes and beliefs toward prison rape. To date, there has been only one study conducted that examines wardens' attitudes toward prison sexual assault, and it was completed before the implementation of PREA. It found that a majority of the wardens surveyed reported that their prison rape and sexual assault policies were considerably less effective than staff training and increased inmate supervision. The current study replicates the prior study in a post-PREA environment.