Sexual Incidents in U.S. Prisons, Jails Up 21%

Source: Crime and Justice News, August 17, 2007.

• "Federal, state, and local correctional authorities reported an estimated 6,528 allegations of sexual violence or harassment involving inmates last year, says a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. The number is up 21 percent from the first such survey in 2004, but much of that may be due to more complete reporting. It was the equivalent of 2.9 allegations per 1,000 inmates in prisons, jails, and other adult correctional facilities during 2006. About 47 percent of the cases involved sexual violence between inmates; 34 percent were nonconsensual acts, such as rape and forcible sodomy; 13 percent were abusive sexual contacts, such as unwanted touching or grabbing with the intention to sexually exploit."
• U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics