Tag Archive for Youth Facilities

A discussion of the new PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Standards

You are invited to join the conversation with Dana Shoenberg and Jason Szanyi from the Center for Children’s Law and Policy, and Jessica Sandoval from the Campaign for Youth Justice,

On Tuesday June 19th at 2:00 PM EST

Please RSVP to info@njjn.org for call-in information.

On May 17, 2012, The Department of Justice released its final rule for the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).  The rule sets national standards for prevention, detection and response to sexual misconduct in four categories of facilities: juvenile facilities, adult prisons and jails, lockups, and community confinement facilities.  The teleconference will address the following questions:

  • What kinds of facilities are/are not covered?
  • What are some key provisions that will protect youth in custody?
  • What are the implications for individual states?
  • How will state implementation be audited?
  • How can you help establish systems of support for those who have been victimized?
  • What are the implications for youth who are in the adult system?
  • How you can weigh in on appropriate staffing ratios for youth facilities.

Participants in the teleconference will discuss an outstanding issue for which the Justice Department is seeking additional public comment:  by early August, it will be important for advocacy groups to weigh in about the rule’s required staffing ratios in juvenile facilities.  We encourage participants to find out what the required or current operating staffing levels are in your state and local facilities, as we would like to have some discussion about positions advocates can take on this issue.

The information above was supplied by the National Juvenile Justice Network, a national organization of state-based youth justice coalitions and organizations that work to promote the reform of America’s critically flawed youth justice system at every level.