A report obtained by WBUR attempts to document what's often a hidden problem: sexual misconduct against women incarcerated in Massachusetts:
obtained by WBUR attempts to document what's often a hidden problem: sexual misconduct against women incarcerated in Massachusetts.
"Officers also use their positions of power to leer at and comment on incarcerated women’s bodies in a sexual manner."The women who agreed to be interviewed for the report were granted anonymity. Many of their accounts have not been independently verified or documented — a common challenge because sexual misconduct typically happens in private.
The report points out the alleged misconduct by staff is against the law, but found it"continually occurs with impunity." The people interviewed for the report described the conduct as"ubiquitous" and said they felt they were"without any recourse." Staff at Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts said"D" told her story during an interview and they did not find records of an investigation, and they did not obtain medical records. In some cases, researchers were able to confirm some details from the interviews.
"There seems to be more of a focus on sweeping these issues under the rug rather than helping women who have gone through these traumatic experiences."Several formerly incarcerated women, not involved with the report, told WBUR that sexual misconduct is a significant and underreported problem in state facilities.
"Mostly what I saw in prison were secret sexual relationships between COs [correction officers] and women," said the woman, who was not involved with the Prisoners' Legal Services report."A lot of people know what's going on. You see officers hanging around talking to someone for hours and then she suddenly has lipstick, beauty supplies and Victoria's Secret lingerie.
The federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, passed by Congress in 2003, requires correctional facilities to monitor complaints of sexual misconduct and their outcomes. It also calls for zero tolerance policies toward sexual misconduct, and procedures to prevent and monitor sexual violence.
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