PREA and Your Right to Safety: Reporting Abuse and Retaliation

Federal law requires that every federal prison maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse and harassment. That means the Bureau of Prisons cannot tolerate sexual assault or harassment by staff or inmates. You have the right to report abuse without fear, and the BOP is required to investigate.

That is the law. This page also tells you what actually happens, what to do if you experience abuse, and honest talk about the system’s documented failures.

What is PREA?

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) is a federal law enacted in 2003. It requires every federal and state prison to:

• Have a written zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse and harassment
• Have a system for inmates to report abuse confidentially
• Investigate all reports of abuse
• Protect people who report from retaliation
• Train staff on how to prevent and respond to sexual abuse

PREA is codified at 28 CFR Part 115 and applies to all federal prison facilities. The BOP has adopted standards and policies that implement PREA.

What counts as sexual abuse and harassment?

Sexual abuse includes:

• Sexual acts (penetration or attempted penetration) with an inmate
• Sexual contact (touching of genitals, buttocks, or breasts) for arousal or abuse
• Voyeurism (observing an inmate’s genitals or breast for arousal or abuse, or forcing an inmate to expose themselves)
• Threats of sexual abuse

Sexual harassment includes:

• Repeated unwelcome sexual advances
• Requests for sexual favors
• Verbal comments of a sexual nature
• Touching of a sexual nature
• Offensive language or gestures of a sexual nature

Sexual abuse and harassment can come from other inmates or from staff. Both are prohibited. PREA does not distinguish; all are violations of the zero-tolerance policy.

Your right to report

You have the absolute right to report sexual abuse or harassment. You can report to:

• Any staff member (officer, counselor, medical staff, chaplain, administrator)
• The PREA coordinator (every facility has one)
• A facility hotline or tip line (if available)
• In writing to the facility administrator or the BOP

Some facilities have anonymous reporting options. Use what feels safe. You can also tell someone outside the facility (family, attorney, advocacy organization) who can report on your behalf.

Important: Do not wait. Report as soon as you can after an incident. Reporting promptly helps with investigation and evidence preservation.

What happens after you report

The facility is required to:

1. Receive and document your report. Take your complaint seriously and write it down.

2. Separate you from the accused person. If you report abuse, the facility should move you or the accused person to prevent further contact while the investigation happens.

3. Investigate. A trained investigator will interview you, the accused person, and any witnesses. The investigation should be completed within 30 days.

4. Protect your safety. The facility should take steps to ensure you are not punished or retaliated against for reporting.

5. Communicate findings. Once the investigation is complete, you should be notified of the outcome (though the level of detail varies).

6. Discipline or prosecution. If abuse is substantiated, the accused person faces facility discipline (loss of privileges, transfer, solitary confinement) or criminal charges.

Retaliation protection

Federal law prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports sexual abuse or harassment. Retaliation includes:

• Threats
• Isolation or removal from programs
• Loss of privileges
• Placement in solitary confinement
• Negative discipline for unrelated infractions

If you report abuse and then face retaliation, you can report the retaliation separately. Tell staff immediately: “I am facing retaliation for my PREA report.”

If retaliation happens and the facility does not stop it, tell someone outside: a family member, your attorney, or an advocacy organization. Outside pressure helps. The BOP should take retaliation seriously.

What you should know: documented failures

Federal inspection reports have documented sexual abuse in federal women’s prisons and, more importantly, documented failures to investigate properly, to protect reporters from retaliation, and to hold abusers accountable.

Documented problems include:

• FCI Dublin: In 2018, a federal investigation found that sexual misconduct by staff went uninvestigated and unreported for years. Women reported assault and were not believed. Changes were required.

• FPC Bryan: In 2026, members of Congress reported that more than a dozen people alleged staff sexual abuse and retaliation against those who reported.

• FMC Carswell: Federal reports documented sexual assault allegations and questioned whether investigation procedures were adequate.

These are not isolated incidents. Federal oversight reports consistently find that sexual abuse happens in women’s facilities and that some facilities do not respond adequately.

Why you need to know this: The PREA law is real, the zero-tolerance policy is real, and your right to report is real. But the system is imperfect. Some facilities investigate thoroughly; others do not. Some retaliate against reporters despite the law forbidding it. Knowing this, you can:

• Report anyway. Report is your right and your protection.
• Tell someone outside. If the facility does not take your report seriously, external pressure matters.
• Document. Keep a record of what happened, when you reported, and what the response was.
• Advocate for yourself. You are not powerless, even though the system is broken in places.

How to prepare before you arrive

Before you report to your facility:

1. Learn your facility’s PREA policy. Call ahead or review the Admission and Orientation Handbook. Know how to report.

2. Identify the PREA coordinator. Know their name and how to reach them.

3. Know the hotline. If your facility has a confidential hotline, know the number.

4. Tell someone on the outside. Make sure a family member, friend, or attorney knows that if you experience abuse, you will report it. Tell them to check in with you.

5. Know your rights. You have the right to be safe, to report abuse, and to be protected from retaliation. Know these rights.

If you experience abuse

Immediate steps:

1. Tell a staff member immediately.
2. If you are injured, request medical care.
3. If possible, preserve evidence (do not bathe or change clothes if it is safe to do so).
4. Get the name of the staff member you reported to.
5. Request a follow-up meeting to confirm that a report was filed.

Documentation:

1. Write down what happened: date, time, who was involved, what was said or done, who you reported to.
2. Keep copies of any documentation the facility gives you.
3. Tell someone outside (family, attorney) so there is an external record.

Advocacy:

1. Follow up on your report. Ask for updates on the investigation.
2. If you are retaliated against, report that too.
3. If the facility does not respond, reach out to advocacy organizations or your attorney.
4. The BOP Office of Inspector General investigates PREA concerns. You can file a complaint with the OIG if you believe the facility did not respond adequately.

Support after abuse

Experiencing sexual abuse or harassment in prison is traumatic. You may feel shame, anger, fear, or betrayal. None of that is your fault.

Support resources:

• Facility mental health services: Request counseling.
• WCSG and other peer groups: Connect with other women who have experienced this.
• Advocacy organizations: Groups like the Essie Justice Group or A New Way of Life support incarcerated women.
• Outside therapy: If you have family who can help you access therapy, that matters.

You do not have to suffer alone.

The bottom line

Sexual abuse and harassment happen in federal prisons. It is real. It is also illegal and prohibited. Your right to report is protected by federal law. You are not powerless. You can report, you can be protected, and the person who harmed you can be held accountable.

The system is not perfect. But you have rights, and using them matters. Reporting creates a record. Multiple reports create accountability. Your willingness to speak up protects not just you but other women in your facility.

If you ever experience sexual abuse or harassment, know this: it is not your fault. You did nothing to deserve it. You have the right to report. You have the right to be believed and protected. The federal law supports you. Use your voice.

Frequently asked questions

What is PREA?

PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) is a federal law that requires every federal and state prison to have a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse and harassment. Federal prisons must have a written policy, a reporting system, and an investigation process. PREA is codified at 28 CFR Part 115.

What counts as sexual abuse or harassment under PREA?

Sexual abuse includes sexual acts with an inmate, sexual contact, or voyeurism. Sexual harassment includes repeated unwelcome sexual advances and other conduct of a sexual nature. Harassment can be from inmates or staff. Both are prohibited and should be reported.

Who do I report to if I am sexually assaulted or harassed?

You can report to any staff member, to the PREA coordinator, or to the facility's tip line or hotline. You can also file a written complaint. Some facilities have anonymous reporting options. Tell someone. Do not suffer alone. If you cannot tell the person who harassed you, find another staff member.

What happens after I report?

The facility is required to investigate. An investigator will interview you, the accused person, and any witnesses. The investigation should be completed within 30 days. If the abuse is substantiated, the accused person faces discipline or criminal charges. You should not face retaliation for reporting.

Will I face retaliation if I report?

Federal law prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports sexual abuse or harassment. If you report and then face retaliation (threats, isolation, loss of privileges), you can report the retaliation separately. Tell someone on the outside if retaliation happens; external pressure helps.