National Prison Rape Elimination Commission

Vera’s Washington DC Office is working with the congressionally mandated National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC) to develop standards for enhancing the detection, prevention, and punishment of sexual assault in jails, prisons, lock-ups, immigration, juvenile, and community corrections facilities.

Congress established NPREC in 2003 as part of the Prison Rape Elimination Act. During the 20 years prior to enacting this legislation, it estimated that more than 1 million people had been sexually assaulted while incarcerated.

People who have been raped in prison often suffer long lasting physical and psychological symptoms that hinder their ability to function both during and after imprisonment. Moreover, lawsuits for the criminal and medical repercussions of such incidents constitute a substantial drain of government resources. To ensure that the standards they develop address these issues, NPREC is conducting a thorough study of the impact of prison sexual assaults on federal, state, and local governments, and on society more generally.

Once approved by the U.S. attorney general, the standards Vera is helping to create will be officially adopted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and will require the compliance of all U.S. correctional facilities.

For more information, visit www.nprec.us