Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

PREA: WHAT IS IT?

In September of 2003, the Prison Rape Elimination Act was signed into law and became the first federal law to address the sexual abuse and harassment of incarcerated individuals.  The law mandates that states adopt a “Zero Tolerance” for all forms of detainee sexual abuse and harassment and that each state makes prevention of detainee sexual abuse and harassment a top priority.

ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY

Every incarcerated individual has the right to be free from sexual abuse and harassment.  In accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, the Alton Police Department has a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of detainee and staff sexual abuse and harassment.  The Department will investigate all allegations and actively seek prosecution when an incident is substantiated.

Sexual abuse is defined as any type of unwanted sexual contact.  When sexual contact is accomplished through fear, threat or implied, it is considered sexual abuse.  Staff-on-Detainee sexual misconduct will not be tolerated.  It is against state law for a staff member, contractor, or volunteer, to engage in any type of sexual behavior with a detainee.

The Alton Police Department has taken various steps to stop sexual abuse and harassment, including providing the detainee population with multiple ways to report sexual abuse, training our staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, and educating the detainee population on how to avoid sexual abuse and report sexual abuse.

The Alton Police Department’s investigations division shall follow a uniform evidence protocol that maximizes the potential for obtaining usable physical evidence for administrative proceedings and criminal prosecutions. If the assault or rape happened in another jurisdiction we will forward the information to the jurisdiction where the assault occurred. You will be contacted, but you may still remain anonymous.

To view the Alton Police Departments’ full Zero Tolerance policy, please click here.

REPORTING DETAINEE SEXUAL ABUSE OR HARASSMENT

The Alton Police Department takes the safety of incarcerated detainees very seriously and ensures that everyone that lives or works within our facilities understands the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse and how to report allegations of abuse.

Detainee

Detainees incarcerated at the Alton Police Department Jail are encouraged to report detainee sexual abuse immediately.  Detainees are provided a number of ways to report abuse that includes:

• Notifying any staff member to include a correctional officer, police officer, chaplain, medical practitioner, or counselor.
• Submitting a confidential written complaint to staff.
• Writing to the Jail PREA Coordinator.
• Confidential counseling and support services are available through Call For Help at 618.397.0975. All calls to Call For Help are free and confidential, the jail will not be notified.  Dialing 8 on any jail phone will forward the call to Call For Help.
• If a detainee believes there is an immediate threat to their safety, they should contact any of the above-listed staff without delay.

Staff

In accordance with the Alton Police Department’s Detainee Sexual Abuse and Harassment Policy, staff having knowledge of detainee-on-detainee or staff-on-detainee sexual abuse must report immediately to the shift supervisor while keeping the victim safe.

Friends and Family

Friends and family of detainees incarcerated at the Alton Police Department Jail may report detainee sexual abuse and harassment by:

•  Phone: If you feel there is an immediate threat to a detainee’s safety call the Jail at (618) 463-3505 and ask to speak with a supervisor.
•  Writing: PREA Coordinator
  Alton Police Department
  1700 E. Broadway
  Alton, IL 62002

When reporting detainee sexual abuse or harassment, please provide information that will assist in the investigation such as the victim’s name, the suspect’s names (if known), the area where the alleged incident occurred, time and date of the incident, as well as a brief summary of the allegation. We investigate all reports of sexual abuse or sexual harassment.

Confidential Counseling and support services are available through Call For Help at 618.397.0975. All calls to Call For Help are confidential, the jail will not be notified.

Online: Reports may be submitted online by completing the form below.

When reporting offender sexual abuse of harassment, you will be asked to provide information that will assist in the investigation such as the offender’s name and offender’s inmate master number, the facility where the alleged incident occurred, time and date of the incident, as well as a brief summary of the allegation. This Web Form is not an Emergency Contact. If you feel there is an immediate threat to a detainee’s safety call the Jail at 618.463.3505 and ask to speak with a supervisor.