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| Congress OKs Bill to Fight Prison Rape |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/05/2003 |
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Congress approved legislation August 1 ordering prison officials to reduce the number of sexual assaults in the nation's jails and prisons. The House approved the bill by voice vote with no debate. The Senate had passed the bill on July 28. The bill now goes to President Bush. Experts estimate at least 13 percent of all 2 million U.S. inmates - more than 200,000 inmates - have been sexually assaulted in prison, and juveniles are more five times more likely to be sexually assaulted in than adults, House members said. With HIV/AIDS accounting for at least 6 percent of prison deaths, that turns many jail sentences into death sentences, lawmakers said. Under the legislation, state and local governments have to work with the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics to study the number of sexual assaults in correctional facilities and come up with national standards to fight prison rape. It also creates a special panel to hold hearings on prison systems, prisons and jails where the number of rapes are extraordinarily high. It authorizes $40 million in grants for state and local officials to help prevent rape, and orders the attorney general to provide information, assistance, and training for federal, state, and local authorities on the prevention, investigation, and punishment of prison rape. |
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