Resources for Columbia County Prison

Resources and Information Provided by: National PREA Resource Center

• PREA Standards for Adult Prisons and Jails
  • The full PREA Standards for Adult Prisons and Jails can be found here.
• Inmate Education
  • PREA Education Video: This 16 minute video was created by the PREA Resource Center as an optional education program that can be administered to inmates entering the correctional facility. An inmate must receive some form of education regarding PREA within the first 90 days of their incarceration. 
  • PREA Educational Guide: This guide was created to go along with the educational video that is linked above. This guide provides specific instructions and questions you can ask the inmates as they go through the educational video to make sure they understand the content. 
• Inmate Screening (§115.41)
  • The National PREA Resource Center developed a guide to help correctional facilities create a screening tool to recognize inmates that might be at an increased risk for sexual assault/harassment while incarcerated. That guide can be found here. (Pages 4 & 5 are highlighted regarding what things an inmate needs to be screened for.) 
• Inmate Reporting
  • Inmates have the right to report sexual assault or harassment internally to a staff person or externally by writing a letter to the PA State Police Barracks. 
• Reporting an Incident
  • PREA Standards State:
    • 1. Staff will investigate every single report of sexual abuse or harassment (§ 115.71).
    • 2. Inmates will not be punished for reports made in good faith (§ 115.78).
    • 3. Both inmates and staff who report sexual abuse and sexual harassment will be protected from retaliation (§ 115.67).
    • 4. No one ever deserves to be sexually abused or sexually harassed (§ 115.11).
    • 5. Sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault.
  • An incident report/PREA Report must be completed and sent to the PREA Coordinator.
  • Ask if they would like to speak to a TWC Advocate-advocates are available to come on-site to meet with a victim
  • Ask if they would like to go to the hospital (if they believe there are any injuries or if the assault was within the last 5 days they can have a forensic rape exam completed)
  • Ask if they would like to speak with anyone from the local mental health office
  • Ask them if they would like to speak to local law enforcement/the investigating officer
  • PREA Specialty Training: Module 4, Reporting and the PREA Standards Video
• PREA Coordinator
  • Tool kits: There are several tool kits available to gain additional background knowledge and valuable resources. These are the tool kits that will be most useful for Columbia County Prison.
    • Know Your Rights: Laws, Court Decisions, and Advocacy Tips to Protect Transgender Prisoners; Authors: American Civil Liberties Union, National Center for Lesbian Rights This guide identifies laws, court decisions, advocacy tips, and other resources that may be helpful for adult transgender prisoners.
    • Survivors Behind Bars: Supporting Survivors of Prison Rape and Sexual Assault, Authors: California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Linda McFarlane , MSW, LCSW, Melissa Rothstein, JD, MSW This publication is a recent chapter update to the ”Support for Survivors” Training Manual, which was first published in 2001 by the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA).
    • Breaking the Code of Silence: Correction Officers’ Handbook on Identifying and Addressing Sexual Misconduct, Authors: Brenda V. Smith, Jamie Yarussi Critical issues related to staff sexual misconduct with offenders are discussed.
• PREA 101 & How TWC Can Help
  • TWC presented trainings for correctional staff from Fall 2014-Spring 2015 regarding the PREA standards, how they will come into effect, how our agency can help, and what services we can provide any inmates who disclose sexual assault or harassment. 
  • An online webinar version of this presentation is available here.
    • Select “do not report, just start” and then select “Start.”
• Upcoming Webinars
  • The National PREA Resource Center offers regular webinars to help hone the skills of correctional staff in recognizing and reporting sexual assault/harassment disclosures. Additionally there are many wonderful educational opportunities for PREA Coordinators, as well. These webinars can be accessed here.