Make a Report
Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment or Retaliation
The Department of Corrections (DOC) has zero tolerance for sexual abuse, sexual harassment or retaliation.
Anyone who engages in, fails to report, or knowingly condones sexual abuse or sexual harassment of an inmate or retaliation for reporting or cooperating in investigations into such conduct shall be subject to disciplinary action and may be subject to criminal prosecution.
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Staff
Sexual Misconduct: Sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by
a staff member, contractor, or volunteer includes any of the following acts,
with or without consent of the inmate, detainee, or resident:
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(1) Contact between the penis and the vulva or
the penis and the anus, including penetration, however slight;
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(2) Contact between the mouth and the penis,
vulva, or anus;
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(3) Contact between the mouth and any body part
where the staff member, contractor, or volunteer has the intent to abuse,
arouse, or gratify sexual desire;
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(4) Penetration of the anal or genital opening,
however slight, by a hand, finger, object, or other instrument, that is
unrelated to official duties or where the staff member, contractor, or
volunteer has the intent to abuse, arouse, or gratify sexual desire;
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(5) Any other intentional contact, either
directly or through the clothing, of or with the genitalia, anus, groin,
breast, inner thigh, or the buttocks, that is unrelated to official duties or
where the staff member, contractor, or volunteer has the intent to abuse,
arouse, or gratify sexual desire;
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(6) Any attempt, threat, or request by a staff
member, contractor, or volunteer to engage in the activities described in
paragraphs (1)-(5) of this section;
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(7) Any display by a staff member, contractor,
or volunteer of his or her uncovered genitalia, buttocks, or breast in the
presence of an inmate, detainee, or resident, and
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(8) Voyeurism by a staff member, contractor, or
volunteer.
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Voyeurism by a staff member, contractor, or
volunteer means an invasion of privacy of an inmate, detainee, or resident by
staff for reasons unrelated to official duties, such as peering at an inmate
who is using a toilet in his or her cell to perform bodily functions; requiring
an inmate to expose his or her buttocks, genitals, or breasts; or taking images
of all or part of an inmate’s naked body or of an inmate performing bodily
functions.
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Staff sexual harassment includes repeated verbal comments
or gestures of a sexual nature to an inmate, detainee, or resident by a staff
member, contractor, or volunteer, including demeaning references to gender,
sexually suggestive or derogatory comments about body or clothing, or obscene
language or gestures.
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Inmate-on-Inmate
sexual misconduct: Sexual abuse of an inmate, detainee, or resident by
another inmate, detainee, or resident includes any of the following acts, if
the victim does not consent, is coerced into such act by overt or implied
threats of violence, or is unable to consent or refuse:
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(1) Contact between the penis and the vulva or
the penis and the anus, including penetration, however slight;
§
(2) Contact between the mouth and the penis,
vulva, or anus;
§
(3) Penetration of the anal or genital opening
of another person, however slight, by a hand, finger, object, or other
instrument; and
§
(4) Any other intentional touching, either
directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner
thigh, or the buttocks of another person, excluding contact incidental to a
physical altercation.
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Inmate-on-inmate sexual harassment includes repeated
and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal comments,
gestures, or actions of a derogatory or offensive sexual nature by one inmate,
detainee, or resident directed toward another.
Methods for Inmates to
Report Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Retaliation or Violation of
Responsibilities that may have contributed to such incidents:
· Tell any staff member to immediately report the incident
· Tell any supervisor or manager to immediately report the incident
· Make a written request to any staff member, supervisor or manager
· Send a written report to the third party reporting address established with the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG):
ATTN: PREA Coordinator
Office of State Inspector General
555 Walnut Street, 8th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
· Have your family call to notify the facility or contact OSIG
Reports can be
submitted anonymously and by third parties.
NOTE: Written reports require processing time and may not prompt immediate action. If you need immediate attention, please notify a staff member or have your family contact the facility or OSIG.
Methods for Civilians to
Report Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Retaliation or Neglect or Violation of
Responsibilities that may have contributed to such incidents:
· Incidents of sexual
abuse, sexual harassment and retaliation can be reported in writing by sending
correspondence via U.S. mail to ATTN: PREA Coordinator, Office of State Inspector General, 555 Walnut Street, 8th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101
· Reports can be
submitted anonymously
Methods for Staff to
Report Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Retaliation or Neglect or Violation of
Responsibilities that may have contributed to such incidents:
· All employees, contract
service providers and volunteers are required to immediately report to the
Shift Commander, any knowledge, suspicion or information regarding an
allegation of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, retaliation or neglect or
violation of responsibilities that may have contributed to such incidents
· The Sexual Abuse
Reporting Address is an option for an employee, contract service provider, or
volunteer to privately report an allegation of sexual abuse, sexual harassment,
retaliation or neglect or violation of responsibilities that may have
contributed to such incidents. Incidents
can be reported anonymously in writing by sending correspondence via U.S. mail
to ATTN: PREA Coordinator, Office of State Inspector General, 555 Walnut Street, 8th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101
· A private report can be
made to the facility’s PREA Compliance Manager or Department PREA
Coordinator
Methods to Report Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Retaliation or Neglect or Violation of Responsibilities that may have contributed to such incidents to an agency outside of the Department of Corrections:
· Send a written report to the third party reporting address established with the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG). You may make such a report anonymously and are not required to provide your name.
ATTN: PREA Coordinator
Office of State Inspector General
555 Walnut Street, 8th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101