Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

What is PREA?

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was passed with unanimous support from both parties in Congress in 2003.  The purpose of the act was to "provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations and funding to protect individuals from prison rape."  (Prison Rape Elimination Act, 2003).  In addition to creating a mandate for significant research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and through the National Institute of Justice, funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Institute of Corrections supported major efforts in many state correctional, juvenile detention, community corrections, and jail systems.

PREA and CIJDC

The CIJDC has a zero-tolerance policy relating to sexual assault/rape of a youth and will cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of anyone involved in the sexual assault/rape of a youth at our facility. Sexual acts or sexual contact between staff and youth, even if the youth consents, initiates, or pursues- is prohibited and illegal.  Staff sexual misconduct also includes sexual harassment (demeaning references to gender, derogatory comments about gender, jokes about sex or gender specific traits, abusive, threatening, profane or degrading sexual comments, attention, language or conduct of a sexual nature).  Resident-on resident sexual abuse and harassment is also prohibited.  The primary responsibility of CIJDC staff is youth safety.

The Juvenile Detention Center has a designated PREA Compliance Officer with sufficient time and authority to develop, implement, and oversee agency efforts to comply with the PREA standards. 

PREA Juvenile Facility Standards

Retaliation for Reporting Sexual Abuse, Harassment, or Misconduct is Prohibited

CIJDC prohibits anyone from interfering with an investigation, including intimidation or retaliation against witnesses.  If you believe you are being unfairly transferred or punished in some way because you filed a complaint or assisted in the investigation of a complaint, please report this immediately to the Program Administrator or Investigator.

Reporting Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, or Staff Sexual Misconduct

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, assault, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment or staff sexual misconduct while in custody by any law enforcement agency or correctional facility, or if you know of an incident of sexual assault of a person in the custody of any law enforcement agency, correctional facility or in this program, please report it immediately!

Who to Inform:

• Any staff member at the CIJDC.  It is part of their job to ensure safety and maintain confidentiality.
• The youth's Juvenile Court Officer.

• The Executive Director

Tony Reed
CIJDC
2317 Rick Collins Way 
Eldora, IA  50627
(641) 858-3852

• The PREA Compliance Officers

Scott Huegel
Matt Mitchell
Jenny Johnson
CIJDC
2317 Rick Collins Way 
Eldora, IA  50627
(641) 858-3852

• The Iowa Department of Human Services Abuse Hotline.  Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  1-800-362-2178.
•  Report it directly to Law Enforcement by calling 9-1-1.

Reports can be made in any of the following ways:

• Verbally
• In Writing
• Anonymously
• By a Third Party

Family, friends and community advocates can also report allegations of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and retaliation. All reported incidents of sexual misconduct will be investigated.