PREA - Prison Rape Elimination Act

Jackson County Sheriff's Office - Jail Division

The mission of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is to provide a safe, sanitary, and secure place of incarceration. It is the ethical and legal obligation of the Jackson County Jail Division's officers to protect the community by securely holding persons who are determined by the courts to pose a threat to public safety. It is our goal to return inmates to society in better condition physically and emotionally than when they were committed to our custody. However, the decision of rehabilitation is a personal decision that can only be made by each individual inmate.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) has a "zero tolerance" policy prohibiting the sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or voyeurism of any person in our custody. Per our policy, if any employee discovers that a person in JCSO custody has been sexually abused or sexually harassed or is at substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse, immediate action must be taken to protect him or her.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) establishes a "zero-tolerance" standard against sexual abuse and sexual assault of incarcerated persons. It is Public Law 108-79, signed in September 2003 by President Bush.

In addition, PREA sets a standard that protects the Eighth Amendment rights of Federal and State prisons, jails, lock-ups, and juvenile facilities-making the prevention of sexual assault a top priority. it also increases available data on sexual misconduct and sexual assault. Furthermore, it increases the accountability for administrators who fail to prevent, reduce, and punish sexual misconduct and sexual assaults.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office Compliance

It is our policy to comply with all standards within PREA. In accordance with PREA standard 115.11, Jackson County Sheriff's Office established a "zero-tolerance" policy for all forms of sexual misconduct, incidents involving inmate-on-inmate sexual violence, and all forms of staff sexual misconduct/harassment toward inmates regardless of consensual status.

Sexual assault is not tolerated at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. It is the policy of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Jail Division that sexual abuse by an employee, vendor, contracted agency, volunteer, inmate, or other non-organizational members with a business association with the Sheriff's Office, is prohibited. This policy applies to all inmates who are identified as being possible victims of sexual abuse or harassment, have been victimized by sexual abuse, or have been identified as perpetrators of sexual abuse or harassment, as well as persons employed by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, volunteers, independent contractors and those who are involved directly or indirectly, in the care and custody of inmates.

Reporting

Inmates are encouraged to report all allegations of sexual abuse and/or sexual misconduct immediately. This will allow for the quickest response and investigation. Also, the claim or allegation does not have to come from an inmate; it may come from the members of the public such as a friend, family member, or loved one.

Reporting allegations can be made in several ways:

  • Report directly to a staff member or via an Inmate Grievance Form.
  • Speak with a supervisor.
  • Speak with healthcare staff or submit a Medical Form.
  • Contacting the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
  • Inmates can contact a crisis helpline by dialing Number 885 for free.
  • Contacting The Women Center, Inc. Crisis Helpline by dialing 800-334-2094.

PREA - What You Need to Know

Detail Your Complaint and Mail to

If you have any information regarding an inmate who has been sexually abused in the Jackson County Jail, please call 618-687-2292, ext. 2604.

Note: Failure to report any incident, you could be found to have acted with deliberate indifference toward the victim's health and/or safety.