The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 is the first federal law intended to protect inmates from sexual assault through a zero-tolerance policy.

PREA is a top priority of the MCSO detention staff. Any sexual abuse by employees, contractors, vendors, volunteers and inmates is strictly prohibited. No person, regardless of position or title, has the authority to commit or allow sexual assault.

The law covers "any federal, state, or local confinement facility, including local jails, police lockups, juvenile facilities, and state and federal prisons." All adult and juvenile facilities, including both jails (transitory populations) and prisons (non-transitory populations), regardless of size, must comply with the law.

PREA protects the 8th amendment rights of all inmates from sexual assault, sexual harassment, ‘consensual sex’ with staff, and inmate-to-inmate sexual assault.

Additionally, PREA uses research and information gathering to verify its ongoing effectiveness. This statistical data helps correction facilities and administrators to improve protections, while holding them accountable whenever misconduct occurs.

To learn more about PREA, please visit:

• National PREA Resources Center

• National Institute of Corrections

MCSO Policy on PREA

• PREA Policy in English

• PREA en Español

Information for Inmates

• Inmate Brochure in English

• Folleto para Reclusos