The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) is a federal initiative to establish a nationwide standard of zero tolerance for incidence of inmate and offender sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape. Further, the legislation makes the prevention of inmate and offender sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct a top priority in penal institutions and under community supervision. The legislation also sets data collection and reporting standards that will be mandated once they are developed
The Rockingham County Department of Corrections has a strict policy of “ZERO Tolerance” concerning instances of Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment, as such:
The Rockingham County Department of Corrections has a strict policy of “ZERO Tolerance” concerning instances of Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment, as such:
- Under New Hampshire Law and the Department of Corrections policy, an inmate cannot legally consent to sexual contact with ANYONE while incarcerated.
- An inmate can have NO sexual contact with another inmate, RCDC staff member, volunteer, contractor or vendor.
- It is NEVER appropriate for RCDC staff, volunteers, contractors or vendors to make sexual advances or comments, or to engage in sexual contact with an inmate, including those persons under the supervision of Community Corrections.
- No one will be retaliated against, in any way, for reporting any form of sexual assault or sexual harassment.